You're Not Stuck — You Might Just Be Going in the Wrong Direction

Sometimes we say we're stuck.  (I know I catch myself doing this!)

Stuck in a job.

Stuck in a relationship.

Stuck with our health.

Stuck with stress.

Stuck with our thoughts.

But sometimes we're not actually stuck.

We're moving.

We're just moving in the same direction we've always moved and that direction isn't getting us where we want to go.

Think about driving somewhere you've never been before. If you take the wrong turn, you can keep driving for another hour and still not get there. (Done this :-P)

Driving harder doesn't fix the problem.

Driving faster doesn't fix the problem.

You need to change direction.

The same thing happens with people.

Maybe you're stressed, so you work more.

It doesn't help, so you work even harder.

You're exhausted, so you push through.

You become irritable.

You withdraw from connection with people.

Your relationships suffer.

That creates more stress.

So, you work harder again.

You can end up in a loop where you're doing more and more of the thing that isn't working.

And because you've been doing it for so long, it starts to feel like there's no way out.

That's what "stuck" can feel like.

But sometimes the question isn't:

"How do I try harder?"

It's:

"What if I need to try differently?"

That doesn't mean everything is your fault.

Sometimes the situation really is difficult. Sometimes there are things outside your control.

But there is usually something you can examine.

What am I doing repeatedly?

What am I expecting to change?

Is it actually working?

What would happen if I did something different? (This was my revelation)

You don't have to completely reinvent your life.

Sometimes a small change in direction is enough.

Have a different conversation.

Set a boundary.

Ask for help.

Stop saying yes automatically. (Guilty)

Go home instead of doing another hour.

Get some sleep instead of trying to solve everything at midnight.

Talk about the thing you've been avoiding.

The important thing is recognising that more effort isn't always the answer.

Sometimes you don't need to push harder.

You need to turn the wheel.

You might not be stuck. You might just be consistently heading in a direction that isn't working, so turn the wheel!

Not sure how to turn the wheel?  DM me for more information, if this resonates, share it around!