We all want life to be easy, to think there’s a point where we “arrive” and life reaches a nice, peaceful plateau.

The reality is, there are those wonderful plateaus, but they are simply resting places along the way. We don’t get to stay there forever.  The major part of life is spent in one of two realms:  STUCK or GROWING.  STUCK looks like prolonged unemployment, debt, indecision, stress, lack of energy, depression, lack of productivity, and a sense of lost purpose.  This is not a comfortable place to be at all. As my friend and mentor Paul Martinelli says,  “stuck stinks.”   GROWING, on the other hand, is energizing.  It is a place of positivity, excitement, productivity, and hope.

The good news is that you get to choose which realm you live in most.  I’m not saying we will never get STUCK (we all do at certain points in life), but I am saying you have a great deal of influence on how long you stay there.

Let’s just say you may have to visit,

but you don’t want to live

in a town called STUCK.

Stagnating

Thinking Too Much

Under-motivated

Complicating the Matter

Kicking Yourself

These are the symptoms of STUCK.  They are rooted in perfectionism and fear.  You are overwhelmed by a situation and so you do…nothing.  Or you overthink and before long, the details bury you so deep you can’t possibly see a way out.

Here’s how to get out of STUCK and on your way to GROWING.  

Get Moving

Literally, get moving.  Take a walk in nature, go for a drive, run on a treadmill, or simply get off the couch and move to another room, another place.  There’s something about moving and changing scenery that makes a person’s mind shift gears.

Remove the Obstacles

The number of obstacles will vary, depending on how stuck you are.  But you just have to start with one.  Removing just one small obstacle in your path will begin to provide momentum.

Own the Process

You can’t wait around for someone else to solve your problems.  You have to own the process.  It’s called responsibility.

Walk With Winners

While it’s true that no one else will (or should) solve all your problems, you do need other people. You need a team of winners when you are stuck.  These need to be strong, successful, solutions-driven folks who will keep you thinking more in terms of solutions than problems.  Surround yourself with people who inspire you and encourage you.  This is not the time to spend time with naysayers and negative people.  In fact, I’m not so sure there is ever a good time for that.  And it’s certainly not the time to “go it alone”.  If you are stuck, immediately reach out to your winning team.  The sooner you do that, the sooner you start to grow again.

Implement a Plan

You might need some help with this one, someone to help you define a goal and begin to lay out simple to steps to get there.

Negotiate Steps

You have a team, a goal, and a plan of action.  What’s the next step?  You have to actually take the steps.  You have to act.  Take one step at a time, and you will be growing before you know it.

Get It Done!

This is what happens when you just begin.

If you find yourself a resident of the town of STUCK, contact us for support to get on your way to GROWING.