Mindset
First and foremost, ‘being stuck’ is just a mindset, or a pattern of thinking that you may have dug yourself into. Realize that it is just a pattern, and that pattern can be changed through implementation of another pattern. Change will not happen over night, so set expectations accordingly.
Steps
- Identify limiting beliefs. What are you telling yourself that’s holding you back? We all have an inner-dialogue that is telling us something. If you’re stuck, it will usually sound like… “You can’t do [insert goal], because [insert excuse].” Where did this pessimistic voice come from? It could have come from people’s exceptions of you, what people continually tell you, or your laziness trying to justify itself. It doesn’t matter, either way it needs to be eliminated and that starts with identifying what they are.
- Look at people who are/were in similar circumstances and are accomplishing/have accomplished what it is that you want to do. Nothing is more reassuring than knowing that whatever it is you’re trying to do has been done, and is therefore possible. And if it hasn’t been done… then that’s even more motivation to do it!
- Re-affirm your ‘why’… go deep. Why do you want to achieve your particular goal? Answer it. Then ask why again. Answer that, then ask why 5 more times. Really think about it. Go a total of 7 why’s deep to find your true motivation (may even be from childhood), and ‘big why’ that will push you forward as if possessing you.
- Make a ‘Not To Do List’. List what it is that you do every day that is holding you back, and focus on not doing it. This is an effective strategy to break your old patterns, while not pressuring you with things to do, but rather cutting the excess fat out of your life.
Getting unstuck may present itself as a challenge to most people, but the challenge is half the fun. It is but one stone along the path to self-mastery, so enjoy it!