To be more confident of forward progress do these 5 things.

One of the main reasons people feel “stuck” is because society celebrates achievement and forward momentum.

It’s easy to feel trapped when you are constantly reminded of what success “should” look like.

Moving forward has always been easy for me, but for some people, it’s not so simple.

When you have been conditioned to shove your feelings aside and "live up" to unrealistic expectations imposed by society, it’s easy to become ambivalent, anxious, and negative.

So, what's the answer?

Learning to acknowledge your feelings and do the hard work of resolving them.

“It is important that we forgive ourselves for making mistakes. We need to learn from our errors and move on.”– Steve Maraboli

Here are 5 things we can do to get “unstuck”.

In touch

When we get that "uncomfortable feeling", don’t ignore it. Acknowledge it. Find a quiet place and tap into what our body is telling us.

It helps to write our feelings down, which is why journaling can be so effective. What we often discover is a place, experience or person that is holding us back.

Becoming aware is the first step toward liberating our self from the shackles of limitation that are often self imposed.

Pay attention

What we believe becomes our reality.

When the narrative inside our head is based on self-limiting beliefs and critical statements, it holds us back.

Recognition of how we communicate with our self is the first step. The second step requires "reprogramming" our thoughts.

Focus on positive thoughts and a depiction of the life we desire to live. 

Modify our internal dialogue. 

I am and I have statements are a great place to start.

Writing these thoughts down in our journal is also helpful.

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”– Walt Disney

Drift away

Sometimes we need to walk away from technology and disengage from the source of our stress.

Routines are remarkable, but we also need time to drift away and allow our mind to frolic without debilitating thoughts or focus. It’s all about being present.

Listen to music. Take a walk. Read. Whatever healthy endeavor allows you to disappear, do it. 

Listen

The universe is a remarkable teacher if we only pay attention. Did you hear a song that sent a clear signal or see an inspirational post that seemed to speak directly to your soul? 

What we call coincidence I call a “sign”. They are beautiful reminders we aren’t alone, and they offer synchronicities sent by the universe to offer hope and reassurance.

Learn to trust the power of the universe and use each gentle whisper as motivation to seek gratitude and humility every day. It’s also a great opportunity to fine tune our listening skills.

Share

Each of us has felt stuck at times. When we share our frustration with a trusted friend it demonstrates vulnerability and stimulates trust.

Try taking your close friendships to a new level by offering to listen to a friend that is struggling and ask probing questions that encourages them to “open up”. This can set a beautiful precedent in the relationship that leads to deeper connection.

“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”

Sum it up

Practice listening to your body, paying attention to your thoughts, engaging in wanderlust, looking for signs from the universe, and sharing your feelings of being stuck, and the rest will follow.

Any tips for getting “unstuck”? Share your thoughts in the comments section and please like and share this article. I love learning from you as well.

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.  Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming. Steve is an author and host of the podcast program Anatomy of Success. Reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn. Learn more about my work and grab the free Weatherology mobile app by clicking any picture in this article!