Have you ever felt stuck in life? I have many, many times in my life. When life seems to be dragging on and on, it’s easy to feel stuck in a rut.
When you feel stuck in life, it’s easy to lose hope. Trust me, I’ve been there before. This loss of hope can make you feel like there’s no point in trying.
But fortunately, there is hope. I’ve worked through feeling stuck and have made it to the other side. In this post, I’m thrilled to share with you the 7 steps I went through to stop feeling stuck and start loving my life!
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Table of Contents
What Does it Mean to Feel Stuck in Life?
Before we get to work, let’s think about what it means to feel stuck. Feeling stuck in life can be a little different for everyone, but the basics are the same. Most people who feel stuck are bored or frustrated with some part of their life. It might be their career, relationships, finances, or some other area that has them feeling stuck.
When you feel stuck in life, moving forward seems impossible, or even worse, totally useless. No matter what you do, you can’t seem to get out of the funk. The situation is totally out of your control, and feelings of helplessness can be overwhelming. These are just a few examples of what it means to feel stuck.
What Causes a Person to Become Stuck in Life?
Now that we know what it means to feel stuck, let’s think about why we feel stuck in life. What are some things that cause us to feel stuck? What can bring us down and make us feel like there’s no point in moving forward? For myself, and a lot of my friends, there are three things that make most people feel stuck in life.
Feeling Stuck in the Past
If you’re anything like me, you have some past regrets in your life. Feeling stuck in the past is a really common thing. Maybe you regret something you said or did to someone else. There might be a relationship you regret messing up years ago.
Or maybe you can’t get over past money mistakes you made. Money mistakes are a big one for me. I start thinking of all the money I wasted when I was younger. These regrets can quickly make me feel like a failure. And if I’m a failure with money, I must be a failure in life! Our past can easily suck us into feelings of being stuck in a rut.
Feeling Stuck in Your Career
Another way you might feel stuck is in your career. This can happen in your job for many different reasons.
Maybe the career you chose isn’t what you thought it would be. You went in with so many expectations, only to realize the day-to-day work is not at all what you thought. It’s easy to feel stuck when life doesn’t meet our expectations.
Working hard for low pay is another way you might feel stuck in your career. Year after year, the prices of EVERYTHING we need get higher and higher. But for a lot of people, their pay isn’t keeping up with the prices. Not getting paid what you feel you deserve is another way many people feel stuck in their careers.
Feeling Stuck Through Depression
Dealing with depression can also make us feel stuck in life. When I was going through cancer treatments and dealing with depression, I felt like my life wasn’t going anywhere. I felt stuck in an endless cycle of sadness and illness.
It was easy to feel stuck when depressed. Thankfully, I had family and friends who encouraged me to get the help I needed. By getting the help and support I needed, I finally pulled through my depression and come out on the other side.
(If you, or someone you know, is dealing with depression, please contact a mental health care professional as soon as possible.)
7 Steps to Stop Feeling Stuck in Life
Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve felt stuck many times in my life. When life’s got you down, it’s all too easy to wallow in your sorrows. But, I can promise you there’s a way out. It won’t be easy, and you might have to take a few steps backward before you can stop feeling stuck in life. Here are the 7 steps I’ve used to successfully stop feeling stuck and start moving forward!
Take Care of Your Body
When I’m feeling stuck in a rut, one of the first things I let go of is my physical health. I stop caring what I eat, or even worse, start eating my feelings. I also stop exercising as I should. In my mind, I’m thinking that it doesn’t really matter if I’m taking care of myself. Why bother, right?
Wrong! One of the first steps you can take to stop feeling stuck is to start taking care of your body. After all, it’s the only one you’ve got. Eating healthy and moving your body are two small steps you can take to stop feeling stuck in life.
Several years ago, my family started taking martial arts classes together. These classes have been a great way for our family to stay in shape and take care of our bodies together. I’m also thankful for the friends we’ve made through our martial arts dojo.
Take Care of Your Mind
Another step you can take to stop feeling stuck is to take care of your mental health. This goes right along with taking care of your body. When you take care of your body and your mind, your overall outlook lifts immediately.
Taking care of your mind looks a little bit different for everyone. Getting rest, learning something new, or spending time in meditation and prayer are all great ways to take care of your mind. The key is to try something, and if it doesn’t work, try something else. You can’t do too much to take care of your mind.
Let Go of Everything You Can’t Change
Unfortunately for all of us, there are things that happen in our lives that we cannot change. Dwelling on things that I can’t change will drive me crazy!!!
I hate not being in control. This lack of control leaves me feeling stuck in a rut. If I can’t make changes, then why should I bother doing anything?
Learning to let go of things we can’t change is crucial if we want to stop feeling stuck! Going over and over all the things we can’t fix won’t do any good for anyone. So it’s time to let it go.
Work on the Things You Can Change
Now that you’ve let go of things you can’t change, it’s time to do some work! One of the best ways to stop feeling stuck in life is by working on something you can change.
It doesn’t matter if it’s something big or small that you change. The point is to do something. If your goal is to start eating healthy, try adding a salad to your lunch every day. If your goal is to save money, you could skip your morning coffee run and brew your own cup. There are so many ways simple ways to move forward and stop feeling stuck!
Stop Feeling Stuck When You Try Something New
Being bored can make us feel stuck in a rut. We keep doing the same old habits day after day. Feeling stuck in life is a perfect time to try something new. Not only is it a great way to break out of a rut. But it’s also a great way to grow your mind and experiences!
There are tons of opportunities out there to try something new. You could learn to cook a new type of food, listen to a podcast, or visit somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. You could learn a new skill or take an adult art class. Whatever you choose, trying something new is an awesome way to stop feeling stuck in life!
Move Forward and Make Plans for the Future
Let’s say you can’t make too many changes in your life right now. You’ve made a few small changes, but you’re still feeling stuck in life. If this is you, it might be time to start planning for the future.
I’ve been teaching for 25 years. I have reached a point in my career when I can almost retire, but I still need a couple of more years under my belt. Being this close could make me feel stuck. Instead, I’ve decided to use these next couple of years to plan what retirement will look like.
I’ll be relatively young (50) when I retire from teaching. This is the perfect time to start looking at a second career. I’m going to use these next couple of years to plan out my future. Making a plan has me excited to move forward and stop feeling stuck in life right now!
Count Your Blessings to Get Out of a Rut
Being grateful is my favorite tip I use to stop feeling stuck in life. It’s almost impossible to be in a rut when you practice gratefulness.
Each morning I start my day with coffee and God. After reading the Bible, I spend several minutes in prayer, starting with what I’m thankful for first. Beginning each day counting my blessings is the best way I know to stop feeling stuck and start living life to the fullest!
I hope these 7 tips are helpful if you’re feeling stuck in life. Be sure to subscribe if you want to get updates on the latest blog posts and freebies!!!
Blessings,
