Feeling stuck can be one of the most frustrating and emotionally draining feelings. It may stem from a stagnant job, an unfulfilling relationship or even just a general sense of being stifled and blocked from moving forward. The good news is that everyone feels stuck at some point, so you’re not alone. Whether you’re stuck in your career, home life or even in the midst of a difficult personal or professional challenge, there are several strategies that can help you get unstuck.
The first thing you need to do when you’re feeling stuck is to re-focus your thinking. This isn’t about ignoring the problem or forgetting the negative, but rather shifting your focus onto what parts of the situation make you feel the least bad. This shift in thinking is a key step to changing your emotions from a stuck state to a breakthrough state.
Another important factor in getting unstuck is regaining a sense of purpose. This is the fuel that will drive you to overcome any roadblocks that arise. Oftentimes, when we’re stuck, it’s because we’ve lost our sense of meaning and purpose in life. Finding it again can be a big challenge, but there are many ways you can do it, such as:
In addition to purpose, another thing that can keep you stuck is your lack of clarity around what the end-goals should be in your personal and professional life. This may be because you’re focusing on the day to day, which can sometimes be great for managing stress. But it’s also helpful to have long-term goals to motivate you during difficult times or when you’re stuck in a rut.
Getting unstuck often requires that you take steps outside of your comfort zone. That’s why it’s so important to work with others when you’re trying to make changes. When you do it on your own, you’re more likely to give up or fall back into a stuck state. Find a buddy, an accountability partner, or join a wolf pack to hold you accountable and help you move forward.
Lastly, you may be stuck because you don’t have a clear understanding of what the story is that you’re writing about. This is a common problem that most writers face. To solve this, I recommend taking a step back and looking at the big picture of your story’s genre. Each content genre tackles a specific theme or topic, such as love, survival, growth and meaning, and each works to evoke certain emotions in readers. Once you’re aware of what the story is that you’re telling, you can then drill down and address any issues at the scene level.