Why feeling stuck might be the best thing to happen to you

Feeling stuck might not be the most positive experience at face value, but what if that feeling was actually a sign that something amazing could be about to happen? 

Perhaps you woke up one morning and realised that you do the same thing every day, that you feel trapped or stifled and that you long for something more. Perhaps you’ve known this for a long time. These feelings tend to create a sense of frustration and fear as you’re aware of yourself going through the motions, suspecting that you’re missing out on bigger and better things but also feeling wholly powerless to break the cycle. Your mindset is crucial to this experience.

Feeling stuck could be your mind and body telling you that it’s time to look out for different directions, time to embrace those parts of yourself that have long been neglected and time to begin a journey of growth and transformation. Feeling stuck really can be an opportunity in disguise. 

Change very often can seem to be a villain, causing chaos and upheaval as it smashes its way through your life, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you can embrace change and lean into the idea of trying new things with an open mind, you can embark on a voyage of self-discovery and transformation of real depth and purpose.

Whether it’s something that you have put off for seemingly forever because it seems too big and unreachable or it’s a change that you’ve been forced into – like redundancy, the end of a relationship or relocation – there are any number of reasons why you could be reluctant to embrace certain transitions. It’s possible that these changes will be ultimately beneficial, even though it may initially feel anything but. 

When change is upon you it’s a real chance to reframe the challenges as opportunities for growth and reinvention. We often find that we’re capable of far more than we realise and this usually comes from being pushed out of our comfort zones. 

If you’re worried that embracing change is going to be an uncomfortable experience, I’m not going to lie. It could be. Stepping into the unknown will push you out of your comfort zone – but does that have to be a bad thing? When you look back at your life, you’ll see that you have gone through change after change. There was a nerve-racking, tentative first time for everything you do now with confidence. Those things were once great achievements too – they weren’t comfortable to begin with. They were the unknown, pushing you out of your comfort zone and into a new version of yourself. You did it then and you can do it again now. The process of change can be incredibly enriching if you can view it with an open and curious mind. 

Your mindset affects how you perceive the challenges that come with change. When you have a mindset that resists change and holds onto patterns and habits that have become unhelpful to you, you can find yourself up against internal obstacles that will work to keep you stuck. These obstacles manifest in the form of fear, procrastination, limiting beliefs, negative thought patterns and avoidance behaviours to name just a few. Working with a life coach will help you identify the obstacles, both internal and external, that you face, learn tools, and create achievable action plans to overcome these and build a new and positive mindset. 

Your life coach will give you the safe space to openly and honestly explore your individual challenges and dreams without fear of judgement – and when was the last time you were able to say out loud what you really want without fear of what others would think? 

The fear of judgement is a powerful piece of quicksand, I mean, if your dreams were to impact your family or friends, you might well choose not to worry them or ‘rock the boat’. The limitations on speaking about your dreams, much less exploring them as actual possibilities are both profound and very common and that’s before we even look at the fear of failure or not being taken seriously. It’s not possible to gauge how reachable your goals are until you really have the chance to break down the steps. It’s common to find unexpected hidden strengths during coaching as you are supported in moving forward. 

It’s easy to say ‘Embrace change and don’t be intimidated by being stuck’ but how do you actually go about doing it? That fear and intimidation are not just thoughts or feelings, but more a mixture of heavy, panic-based sensations that work together to hold you in place. Here are a few ideas to help you get started on freeing yourself up;

Take some time to reflect on your current situation and mentally ‘step back’ from it. What can you learn from what’s happening? This time gives you the space to get some clarity and perspective, helping you to check in with yourself and evaluate whether your actions and intentions are really helping your long term happiness. Practising mindful reflection ensures that your decisions are rooted in healthy balance, rather than reactive emotions.   
Get clarity. Practising mindfulness and journaling are both great ways of gaining clarity. Clarity is an important part of navigating life changes as it allows you to focus, define your goals and understand your values. This understanding helps you create a clear path forward, reducing that lost feeling and confusion. Clear vision lets you make decisions based on your desired outcomes and empowers you to embrace change with confidence and purpose. 

Working with a life coach will give you personalised support and the space to gain the clarity you need. A coach can help you identify limiting beliefs and negative blind spots that may be holding you back. By creating tailored strategies for your needs, a coach will empower you to stay focused, motivated and accountable. This is a partnership that exists to enable personal growth and help you create lasting, positive changes in your life. 

Feeling stuck can, almost literally, be a drag but with a shift in perception, it can be the wake-up call that you’ve been waiting for. It can be the ally in disguise, nudging you towards something new and transformative. Whether this is a change that’s been sneaking up on you for a long time or it has suddenly leapt out of the blue and hit you, take this opportunity to regain your identity, your path and your purpose. Reach out for the support of a life coach and get started on your new journey.