Wow! Signs You Might Be Stuck

When you are stuck in a snow storm you know it! There’s no confusion!

Being stuck in life, however, is rarely that obvious.

Stuck In The Snow

In 2011 when we lived in the Atlanta area, a measly three inches of snow fell. For many parts of the United States, as well as in other parts of the world, three inches of snow is barely worth mentioning. In the south, however, three inches is enough to shut the town down!

During this specific storm, schools were forced to become shelters because parents were unable to pick up their children.

The snow quickly turned to ice, leaving thousands of motorists stranded on the interstates overnight. More than a hundred people were injured. Many abandoned their cars in pursuit of essentials like food, water, and especially warmth! The cars left behind turned the freeways into parking lots. It was a mess!

When the storm hit, I just happened to have a house full of college age guys, which made life especially interesting. You know how guys that age eat, so thank heavens I had a freezer full of food, because the icy conditions kept us stuck in the house together for nearly a week!

I reflect on that week and smile. It turned out to be a happy memory making time of scrounging meals, playing games, and playfully whooping it up in the snow. Being stuck in life is rarely that fun!

Stuck In Life

There was zero confusion during the snow storm. If you were stuck, you knew it!

Here’s what’s crazy: you might be stuck right now in life or work and not even know it! Or perhaps being stuck is not a mystery to you because life or work or both have come to a halt. In that place, not only do the possibilities seem to vanish but you aren’t even sure which direction to go. It’s not a happy feeling!

Being stuck is a temporary state where you feel like there’s a lack of forward momentum in some area of life or work. You aren’t experiencing the growth you desire or you aren’t making the progress toward your goals that you’d like. Typically, the feeling is isolated to specific areas.

While being stuck has the potential to trigger depression, feeling stuck and depression are not the same thing. Yes, they both leave you feeling unable to move forward, but depression is more of a generalized feeling accompanied by sadness and a loss of interest that interferes with day-to-day functioning. When stuck, you may function quite well in most areas of life except the area or areas you are stuck.

Being stuck frequently has an interesting incongruence to it – you say you want such-and-such, but you do nothing to move the needle closer to you realizing that thing.

Examples of Being Stuck

You say you want to…

• • • Grow your business, but you aren’t consistently prospecting or making the efforts that would help to grow your audience.
    • Lose 25 pounds, but you aren’t willing to do what it takes to consistently make exercise a priority.
    • Get a promotion, but you aren’t proactively improving your communication skills – an area of growth that’s been identified by you and your boss.
    • Write a book but you haven’t blocked out time to write so it isn’t happening.

Of course, there are dozens of examples of being stuck – ways you are self-sabotaging yourself and making it impossible for you to accomplish the very goal you say you want to accomplish!

Those areas of your life or work that are incredibly important to you – those are the areas you are the most likely to get stuck!

Signs That You Are Stuck

Are you wondering if you’re stuck? Here are a few of the signs that would suggest that you are:

1. Lack of Motivation

Have you lost your get-up-and go – your drive to accomplish whatever you claimed was of great importance to you?

Have you begun making excuses as to why you’ve lost momentum in that area?

When you think about that task, area of your life, or goal do you feel a sense of heaviness or dread? Like conjuring up the motivation to get back in the saddle and make things happen requires far too much energy?

Do you feel a bit frozen or at a loss as to how to rekindle your excitement around that project?

2. Exhausted

You feel zapped of energy just thinking about “that area” of your life so you don’t think about it. And you are too worn out to follow through with the actions needed to get where you want to be.

3. Aimless

Are you frantically busy, hustling, perpetually multi-tasking but not taking steps towards the one thing that would propel you forward? Have you lost touch with why that goal mattered in the first place? Are you lacking a strategy or not seeking the help you need and continuing to flounder?

If you answered yes, it sounds like you might be stuck!

4. Overwhelmed

Do you get bogged down by how immense or scary the tasks feel? Does it feel like successfully getting where you want to be is impossible because the tasks to get there are too numerous? Are you unsure of where to begin? Has procrastination become your friend?

If so, guess what – you are stuck!

5. Consumed by Conflict

Does it feel like no matter where you turn, there’s no peace? Do you feel like harmony is illusive and miscommunications, misunderstandings, differences in opinions, hurt feelings, and gossip abound?

Your affirmative answers could indicate you are stuck in some way.

6. Alone

Even when surrounded by people, the sense of isolation feels paralyzing. Are you lacking a sense of belonging or camaraderie? Do you feel unsupported? Are you missing out on the opportunity to brainstorm ideas or get feedback?

7. Hopeless

Do you feel like your efforts are in vain – after all who cares if you realize your goal? Does progress elude you? Is apathy the word of the day?

It’s possible you are stuck.

8. Worthless

Do you feel undervalued, unappreciated, or unrecognized? Does whatever once made you feel alive or like you had something valuable to contribute now seem pointless; like it couldn’t possibly make a difference in the world?

9. Impostor Syndrome

Do you feel less than, under-qualified, or even like something has disqualified you from being able to step into what God’s called you to do?

Oh, the enemy loves to cast doubt on what God desires you to pursue. It isn’t about you, it’s about what God does through you! Your role is simply to be obedient, but obedience means moving forward!

10. Afraid

Does the next step feel too risky, too terrifying, or way outside your comfort zone? Is your Fear Monster confirming your worst suspicions?

God created you for a unique purpose. He has placed unique gifts and passions in you. He wants your life and work to make a difference in the Kingdom and reflect Him in ways that bring Him glory. That isn’t possible when you are stuck!

In the Atlanta area, when a few inches of snow are forecast beware! It might mean changing plans, purchasing some provisions, or altering your expectations. Ignoring the warnings might be detrimental.

Signs of being stuck personally or professionally shouldn’t be disregarded either.

Moving Forward

Along with goals come obstacles that make quitting tempting along the way – even when you are pursuing a vision straight from God!

Getting unstuck means doing something different. Even a tiny steps makes a big difference and it’s surprising how energizing moving forward is!

Did you know that only 65% of people ever reach a goal on their own? And that’s when they have set a goal, made a conscious effort to do it, set a deadline, created a plan, and even committed to someone else that they would complete that goal!

However, if you have an accountability partner that you schedule check ins with, your odds of achieving your goal increase to 95% according to an accountability study done by ASTD (now ATD)!

That’s the beauty of working with a coach! Not only are they there to help you pinpoint what’s keeping you stuck, create a strategy for moving forward, but they also regularly check in to see if you are taking those small steps forward!

Whether you are pursuing a massive dream, attempting to grow your leadership skills, or just make some necessary changes in life, working with a coach naturally speeds up the process of getting unstuck so you can get on with what you were made for!

Where are you feeling stuck? What baby step will you take?

© Can Stock Photo Inc. / JackyBrown