How to Break the Cycle of Feeling Stuck

Everyone feels “stuck” at some point. You may be in a rut or a daily routine that is no longer challenging, or a problematic situation with co-workers or customers may have you feeling trapped. And let’s face it—the last two years have put many of us in what feels like an endless, changeless situation! So how do you break the cycle of feeling “stuck?”

Start with these three suggestions:

1. REFRAME:

Start by reframing the perspective from which you’re viewing the situation. Identify the problem in writing, then write down how you are thinking, feeling, and acting related to the issue. Challenge yourself to think of another way to think, feel, and act, and then think of yet another way to think, feel, and act.

At first, this process may feel pointless. It may seem like you’re just rehashing the same things you’ve already gone through in your head dozens of times. Challenge yourself to get beyond the obvious thoughts, feelings, and actions. When it starts to get difficult to think of something new, you might be getting close to reframing your perspective and seeing your challenge in a different light. That’s often the point where new possibilities arise.

2. REACH OUT:

It’s very common to think that we have to get “unstuck” by ourselves, especially when we work in isolation. Leaders may feel separated from others by their position, or remote workers may feel closed off from co-workers.

The reality is that people need connection, especially when going through challenges or difficulties. For one thing, others can help give us a fresh perspective on the situation. They may help us see new ways to think, feel, and act, and they may change our thinking on the situation. Look for a mentor or a colleague in a similar position who can see your challenge from the outside—someone who can bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to help you get unstuck.

The other reason to reach out to others is simply to not feel alone—to ask others for support during a difficult time. In our culture, we sometimes falsely believe that asking for support or help is a sign of weakness. Nothing could be further from the truth! Even if another person can’t help change the situation or your perspective, just having someone to provide a listening ear and some emotional support can bolster us during challenging situations.

3. REMEMBER

Whatever your situation, remember that you have choices and options. You are not backed into a corner—you can choose to do something to change your situation. Sometimes just reminding yourself that it is possible to make a different choice can help give you the courage and mindset to act.

Feeling stuck does not have to be permanent. You can reframe the situation, reach out for help, and remind yourself that you have choices. These three steps can help you manage your situation and get unstuck.

A version of this article was originally published on Stewart Leadership's Blog.