We have all been there at one point in our lives. Stuck.
Sometimes we don’t even realize that we are stuck, we move along repeating the same mundane tasks day after day. Wake up, work, eat, sleep, repeat.
And then all of a sudden it hits us, we are standing there in front of the mirror, brushing our teeth like we do every day, and start to think, is this really all there is?
Which brings me to the story of Pete. Pete was a field technician who worked on an offshore oil rig. Two weeks on and two weeks off. He was born and raised in southern Louisiana and the farthest Pete had ever ventured from home was the two hour boat ride out to the platform where he worked.
Pete lived in the same city, hung out with the same people and held the same job for most of his life. He was comfortable, set in his ways, and never really thought about trying something new. But while he was out there living and working on the oil rig, he started listening to the other technicians going on and on about what they did on their weeks off, and he started to feel like he was missing out on something, until one day while brushing his teeth, he stood there looking at himself in the mirror and thought out loud, “what am I doing with my life”?
That was the turning point for Pete, that set the wheels in motion where he decided he needed to put himself out there and try something new, and he worked up the courage to start planning what would be the vacation of a lifetime.
His eyes lit up whenever he talked about it. He would go on and on chatting to anyone that would listen to him, about how he would get there, where he would stay and what he planned to do. At first we thought he was going somewhere exotic, like Hawaii, Cancun or Fiji, but no, he was planning a trip 200 miles north to Shreveport Louisiana.
But he did it, and it was a life changing experience for him. Even at only 200 miles away, the world was so much bigger than he ever imagined, and he realized for the first time in his life, that he had the power all along to make a positive change in his life and experience something new and find joy. Before we knew it, Pete found another job, packed up his things, and we never saw him again. All it took was a little curiosity, a dream, and the courage to put himself out there.
No matter where we are in life, we all have that same power to get unstuck and make positive changes, yet we don’t always use it. Our fear of failure, of embarrassment, of being too old, or goals too difficult are all reasons we give ourselves for not trying.
Sometimes life seems so overwhelming and we feel so stuck that it is hard to see a way out. But there is always a way out, you just need to learn how to put the wheels in motion to move forward.
Here are 10 simple ways to help you get unstuck and get those wheels turning:
- Stay positive – Focus more on what you want in your life versus what you don’t want, and stop the negative self talk. There is something to be said on the law of attraction and fake it till you make it. A positive attitude is the fuel you absolutely need to keep the fire burning and to get what you want in life.
- Write it down – Make it real and write down what it is you want in life. Writing it down is a way of sending what you want to your subconscious and letting your subconscious do the work. It is almost unbelievable what your subconscious mind can do, it is said to be 95% of your brain power and we want all that power working for us rather than against us.
- Learn to face your fears – research shows the reason most people don’t step out of their comfort zone is that they are afraid of failing or that they have failed once and are afraid to try again. This is where it helps to listen to the stories of others, on how they overcame the fear of failure and eventually succeeded in what they set out to do. The word failure sounds so negative, in reality when you are putting yourself out there, it is never a failure to have tried, it is actually a very courageous act to be vulnerable enough to put yourself out there. It may take several rounds of trying before you make it, but all that trying adds up to experience. Never be afraid to be courageous.
- Set obtainable goals – It is ok to have big goals, but sometimes we get so overwhelmed by how big they are, that we give up too soon and stop trying. Go ahead and set those big goals as your compass to guide you in the right direction, but make sure to set smaller obtainable goals and stick to them. Reaching the smaller obtainable goals will feel rewarding and give you the confidence you need to keep pushing forward towards the bigger goals.
- Don’t let others discourage you – You be you! You know what you want so go for it. If you are seeking advice, look to those who can give you a positive path to follow. Tune out the negative, especially from those who didn’t have the courage to try themselves.
- Dream big and don’t settle for less – If you want the ice cream sunday, don’t settle for a popsicle, go for the sunday. Let the popsicle be your stepping stone, but don’t lose sight of the sunday. And don’t be afraid to pivot, if you get halfway to the sunday, you might find that what you really want is the Tiramisu, and that is ok, stop, pivot, and go for the Tiramisu.
- Don’t let age get in your way – Age is just a number and has nothing to do with your potential. Keep your mind young by learning new things and thinking forwards, not backwards. Learn to be flexible and open to change.
- Don’t let education get in your way – In any business, confidence speaks louder than degrees. Get out there and be courageous.
- Do something every day – No matter how small, do a little something every single day to get unstuck. Write in a journal, say an affirmation, make a call, set an appointment, work on a resume or create a post. Whatever you do, do something, it doesn’t have to be big or grand, just something to keep you focused on what it is you want to do.
- Be patient – Things don’t always happen overnight. Keep your eye on your goal, follow your heart and give yourself time. If you need to reset, then stop and reset, just don’t ever, ever give up.
Be well my friends, encouraging you to put yourself out there and make some positive changes in your life. Try a new recipe, reconnect with an old friend, or create something beautiful. Life is short, so use your power to make the most of it.
Love,
Deborah