Feeling Stuck
4 ways to overcome feeling stuck
“ I don’t know what to do.”
“I’m in a rut.”
“Lately, I’ve just been feeling stuck”
I’m sure we have all experienced a time in our lives where we just feel stuck in a rut. Some of you may be able to pinpoint specific reasons why, but for most of us it’s just this nagging feeling. We want to be doing something different. We should be doing something more. We need to be doing something novel. Before you know it, what began as just a nagging feeling is now manifesting into negative feelings such as anxiety, fear, and overwhelm. Truth be told, you are probably doing much more than you think! Although it is something we all experience at some point, navigating this feeling can be extremely difficult! You and so many others may be left asking yourselves why? Why am I feeling this way? How can I move past this?
You may never fully understand the exact reason behind this feeling, however this scenario may provide you with some clarity. What if feeling stuck was information, not a destination. What if these perceptions of lacking clarity, feeling uninspired, fear, or doubt were merely just details for us to untangle? For example, Let’s say you locked yourself & your car keys outside of your house. You wouldn’t tell yourself “This is just who I am. There’s nothing I can do''. This is a sign that you may need to reach out to a locksmith or your significant other to let you back in. You wouldn’t abandon your house and think “Well I guess this is it ''. You would find a way back in. The point of this scenario is that when we are feeling stuck due to x,y, or z, you can use what you are feeling as information to better understand why you might be feeling this way and in turn you can then take action to feel more at ease.
Why might I be feeling stuck and what can I do to improve this feeling?
We get it, climbing out of a slump can be hard! You might not know where to start or what the underlying issue is. Here are 4 tips to help you navigate through this uncomfortable time.
Meet yourself where you are now. This might be one of the most important pieces in getting through this period. Although difficult at times, the healthiest thing you can do for yourself is to let things be. The more you try to control, understand, and break apart this feeling, the more confused and trapped you may become. The first step is to accept what is. You are feeling stuck and that is okay! Once you are able to acknowledge and accept this fact, then you can begin to incorporate tools to help guide you out of the rut.
Identify the cause. Oftentimes you may be feeling stuck because you are lacking clarity somewhere in your life. Maybe it has to do with your core values or your future self. Maybe like the scenario above, you have access to this information, but don’t know where to begin to understand it. Something you can try implementing, is to simply ask yourself guided questions-
“What are my core values?” Write them down!
“What actions do I need to take to help embody them?”
“What qualities does my future self have?”
“What advice would I give my future self?”
“What is good enough?”
Breaking down these items may help you navigate through murky areas, providing you with some clarity and overall ease.
Break away from perfectionism. There is nothing wrong with striving for excellence, but when your self worth is based on your achievements, this can become counter productive. When you find yourself in a mindset where you are constantly setting the bar too high, this not only contributes to unachievable goals, but it also encourages that icky feeling of stuckness. The last thing you want is to feel robbed of your self esteem and worth. Having goals is important, but having attainable goals is key! Here is a tool to help -
Set SMART goals. If you are someone that struggles with setting unattainable goals, try implementing this tool to help your goals become more achievable.
Specific. What exactly do you want to accomplish? Why do you want to accomplish it?
Measurable. How will you measure your success or what data do you need to follow?
Achievable. Is the goal doable? Do you have the time and resources to achieve it?
Realistic. Is this the right time? How will you achieve this goal?
Using this tool can help you hone in on not only specific goals, but goals that can be achieved, leaving you feeling accomplished!
Enjoy yourself. No matter the severity of your stuckness, there will always be something you will feel drawn to during these periods. Maybe you are still enjoying reading books, going to your yoga class, or hanging out with friends/ family. It can be easy to feel guilty during this period. You might feel like you aren’t doing enough, but this is your opportunity to acknowledge that you are doing the best that you can during this period! You might be doing less and that is okay. Do the work that you can and go easy on yourself. Nurturing yourself and doing what feels good to you will be the most helpful during this period. The tide will soon shift.
growgood psychology has a team of therapists ready to support you as you begin to process why you might be feeling stuck in rut.
This feeling is unique to everyone. When met with the right support, the journey to understanding and accepting this season of life can be less daunting. Our team of therapists are ready to walk with you in that and support you through it all. Connect with us today to get started!