When it comes to achieving significant goals, there are periods where the going gets tough. For some of us, forward action ceases during this time.
Do any of these sound familiar to you?
When we let the logical mind attempt to solve the problem, we limit our options without even knowing it. In this place of stuck-ness, the mind is not able to see every solution. The mind can only see what's happening directly in front of it, and not the bigger picture.
- Over-analyzation: Your mind is spinning/whirling while attempting to solve the problem
- Stress: You feel tired, low-energy and/or anxious from all the mind chatter
- Hopelessness--"Will I ever figure this out?"
- Regret--"If I hadn't embarked on this path, I wouldn't be feeling this way."
- Self-judgement--"Why can't I figure this out?" "This was a dumb idea!"
- Advice not working: Suggestions from family/friends isn't helping
- Independence: "I should be able to fix this on my own."
- Justification: "I must not be meant to do this."
 | When we let the logical mind attempt to solve the problem, we limit our options without even knowing it. In this place of stuck-ness, the mind is not able to see every solution. The mind can only see what's happening directly in front of it, and not the bigger picture. |
Maze experience
Imagine you attempt a physical maze. You are walking along, turning left, then turning right. After a while, you start thinking you should have gotten to the end by now. You keep going and making turns and still you don't reach the end. Now, you have no idea where the beginning is either. The more you keep moving and making turns, the more stressed you become. You start judging every decision as being wrong, since you aren't to the end. Eventually you are so freaked out that you can't move. You are lost, confused, frustrated, possibly afraid. You now wish you never ventured into the maze in the first place. Has this happened to you?
What you can do about it
A) Acknowledgement
Take a few minutes and let yourself feel any emotions that are surfacing. Don't judge or insist they shouldn't be there. Just let them express themselves. Is it anger, frustration, sadness? Often, when emotions present themselves it means some of our values are being tested. Need help determining your values? Visit our Values Chart. Just naming what's happening, letting the emotions be present, and acknowledging a value isn't being honored, is enough to let feelings pass so that you can move forward.
B) Powerful Questions
Ask yourself one or more of the following powerful questions. These questions often shift our perspective enough to move forward.
Take a few minutes and let yourself feel any emotions that are surfacing. Don't judge or insist they shouldn't be there. Just let them express themselves. Is it anger, frustration, sadness? Often, when emotions present themselves it means some of our values are being tested. Need help determining your values? Visit our Values Chart. Just naming what's happening, letting the emotions be present, and acknowledging a value isn't being honored, is enough to let feelings pass so that you can move forward.
B) Powerful Questions
Ask yourself one or more of the following powerful questions. These questions often shift our perspective enough to move forward.
- Why did I start this maze?
- If I get to the end, how will it feel?
- What's the global picture here?
- What do I want to call forth from myself right now?
C) Still stuck?
Even after both of these exercises, it may not be enough to shift out of being stuck. This is the time to let go of the story: Allow the phrase: "I must figure this out on my own" to run through your mind and consider hiring a life coach.
Often when we are in this stuck place, we have experienced so many emotions and thoughts that we end up beating ourselves up. Life coaching gets you back connected to yourself, back in touch with your goal. The coach believes in you, even when you can't. For people who want to live into their potential, there is nothing worse than falling back into the safe comfort zone. Working with a life coach helps us get out of our own way.
Even after both of these exercises, it may not be enough to shift out of being stuck. This is the time to let go of the story: Allow the phrase: "I must figure this out on my own" to run through your mind and consider hiring a life coach.
Often when we are in this stuck place, we have experienced so many emotions and thoughts that we end up beating ourselves up. Life coaching gets you back connected to yourself, back in touch with your goal. The coach believes in you, even when you can't. For people who want to live into their potential, there is nothing worse than falling back into the safe comfort zone. Working with a life coach helps us get out of our own way.
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