5 Symptoms of Being Stuck - and What To Do About It

Our spirits thrive on change, always looking for new, engaging growth opportunities and pushing us to expand our awareness of the world around us. But our minds and bodies are not always on board, since we have a hard-wired ability to get into a rut and never want to get out!

Most of life is a balance between action and rest, between change and settling down, between movement and stagnation, and this is a fine and normal thing. However, many of us get stuck in the resting part, and may have a seriously hard time breaking free, especially when we have lots of clutter, both material and emotional, holding us down. Perhaps right now, you are frustrated with the lack of energy and direction in your own life, and you need some help getting going again.

Over time, we tend to burden ourselves with all sorts of things that don’t serve us- boring jobs, lackluster relationships, negative self-talk, or self-limiting beliefs. Perhaps these felt right at one time, but as you progressed through life, it became clear that they weren’t working for you anymore. But for one reason or another, you couldn’t bring yourself to throw them out and start over. Changing jobs is too risky, your relationship is comfortably predictable, you don’t know any other way to talk to yourself or think about the world…the list of excuses can go on and on. And this is one of the ways we justify in our minds, the sorry state of our affairs! 

If you’re not convinced that you’re stuck in a rut, here are five signs that it’s time to shake things up!

1. You’re just going through the motions

When your day-to-day life is so predictable, that you could do it while sleeping, then it’s definitely not serving your highest and best. Your mind, body, and soul want to be engaged, to be challenged, and to be excited to see what the day will bring! Having the same tasks, same views, and the same environment day after day is one of the quickest ways to sap your life force. 

2. You’re feeling blue

Sometimes, we hit periods of depression or anxiety that we can’t put our finger on- where did it come from and why? This can be a big ol’ red flag that something in your life needs to dramatically change! When our brains aren’t stretched, and our spirits aren’t given room to flourish, we tend to shut down and hit an emotional flat line. 

3. You’re lost in your own excuses

When we are scared of change, whether we are conscious of it or not, we will come up with a million and one excuses why we can’t do those things that we secretly dream of. Whether that’s signing up for an art class, traveling to a new country, or starting a new business venture, every new adventure requires you to get outside of your comfort zone, but first you have to bust through the clutter that’s blocking you in!

4. You’re overwhelmed

“I’m busy” has become the battle cry of our modern generation, but it’s time to ask yourself, “what kind of busy am I?” Are you happily engaged with lots of exciting projects, or are you trudging through another month of the same? If you’re stuck in a rut, chances are good that you’ll easily feel overwhelmed and exhausted, because you feel like you’re trapped on a never-ending treadmill!

5. You have to drag yourself out of bed in the morning 

Do you groan and get cranky when your morning alarm goes off? When you’re stuck in any kind of unfulfilling life circumstances, it’s so hard to get out of bed and face the day. And why wouldn’t it be? If you’ve got nothing going on that excites you, tickles your creativity, or feeds your soul, it’s nearly impossible to greet the morning with joy and gratitude. 

If you have any of these symptoms, know that you’re not alone, and that there is a way out! You can get yourself “unstuck” and clear the clutter out of your life, so you can make room for the kind of existence that nourishes your mind, body, and spirit!

Let’s do a little exercise right now, to help you shift your attention in a positive and empowered direction. Grab a journal and a pen, and make a “love list”! Take a few deep breaths and settle into a space of open-hearted joy, then savour these questions. What do you love to do? What makes you smile? When do you feel most like yourself? What brings you joy or bliss? Write down as many of these juicy, wonderful things as you can think of- these can be small, everyday things like cuddling with your dog, or bigger things like leading a spiritual retreat. This love list is unique to you, and should fill you with warmth and happiness, just by reading it! 

Now, make a commitment to invite more of these things into your life, even if you have to take baby steps. Shut your phone off for 30 minutes so you can colour or paint today, or plan a trip to the farmer’s market this weekend for fresh veggies to cook with your significant other. This is the first, important step in getting unstuck!