What to Do If You're Feeling Stuck in Life | Foundations

9 Ideas to Help You Break Out of Your Rut

Feeling stuck in life is exhausting; running a marathon in circles in your mind trying to find the way forward instead of around again. But instead of focusing on the finish line, maybe it's time to focus on one step at a time.

Incremental change and progress are the way to move ahead. Here are nine ideas on how to free yourself from the treadmill and your rut.

Think incrementally

If we allow ourselves to think about everything we feel is impeding our progress all at once, the enormity can be our undoing. We feel intimidated by all the change we want to see in our lives and wonder how we can possibly get there from here. But like that marathon finish line, getting there starts with the first step.

Tackle one challenge. Overcome it. Tackle another. Overcome it. And repeat. If you try to tackle all your challenges at once, you'll be able to give your best to none.

Remember nothing is impossible

Feeling stuck can leave us at a loss for what to do, which in turn can leave us feeling paralyzed, or worse yet, blind, to new avenues forward. We get so caught up in thinking it is impossible to make all the changes we want to that we can't see the point of even trying.

But nothing is impossible. Perhaps effecting the change we're seeking won't come the way we initially hoped or planned, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. It just requires us to allow new ideas to take hold and not let our choices overwhelm us. Don't get trapped by you're thinking. Explore your options. Find one solution you believe in and commit to it.

Don't lie to yourself
Key to being able to stick to a choice is being honest with yourself. Don't ignore those hunches or feelings that come from within you. It takes courage to acknowledge bad choices and find ways to make better ones going forward, and being honest is key to living your best life.

No excuses
Nothing stops forward progress faster than excuses. Don't rationalize why you can't make change, don't focus on why you're stuck. Put your focus and energy on what you can do to move forward.

Don't blame others
Just as you focus on what you can do to move ahead, keep your focus on solutions rather than assigning blame to others for how you arrived at this point in your life. Others can't solve your problems, only you can.

Don't make comparisons

Don't weigh your successes and progress on the scale of someone else's life. Measure your life based upon your standards and define your own success.

Change it up

While routines are comforting, they also can be constraining. If you're trying to break out of your rut, break your routine. Don't do things just because you've always done them. Do something new every day, explore the unknown.

Live with gratitude
Counting your blessings is a great way to shake that stuck feeling. Remember to take stock of what is beautiful and good in your life, and take note of those things that instill a sense of purpose and fulfillment in you. Pursue those things; let go of chasing those things you think should make you happy and keep your sights set on those you know truly do.

Enlist an ally
Don't go it alone.

A life coach can help you plot a course by helping you stretch, set goals, assess risks and rewards, identify your strengths and passions, and find your inspiration. Our talented staff at Foundations Counseling can help you clarify what is most important to you, as well as how to make that happen in your life.

Contact us today for your free consultation.