How Do You Move On
When You Feel Stuck?

If I am stuck it's because I haven't identified a problem. I really work hard at creating the self awareness that allows me to sit with myself, write, listen, learn and when all else fails, I go to my friends. They let me talk myself straight. And then ACTION with capital letters .... there is no point in sitting in a bad place.

I pray, journal, cry, and process with my husband or close friends!

When I feel stuck I move on by writing about it. Sometimes it's easier than others.

Journaling. Reading a good book that takes me away from things. Going on a nature walk with my camera. Anything that forces me to look at things a different way.

I've been a walker for many years and I've discovered that walking helps to clear the mind. Walking gets my blood circulating and it helps me to breathe deeper. I take in more oxygen that way and for me, it's been a wonderful stress reducer. I walk early in the morning and that helps to prepare me for my day. If you must leave for work early, then maybe a walk during your lunch break. A walk at the end of the work day helps one to unwind. I don't recommend too much distance too soon so it turns you off, but if you find yourself feeling glum, go for a walk.

There are days I do feel "stuck" and can't seem to move in any direction. So I push it aside and do my best not to think about those many things that could choke and drown me. Getting older was something I was never afraid of, but that is a different story now. We've faced so many hardship in the last 13 years, things that I cannot seem to recover from. Sigh!

But I am trying...I work at it every day!

~Virginia

In my life, I feel stuck most often with my family...I'm married and have two kids, and I'm never stuck there. But I'm stuck when it comes to my sisters, mom, and dad. You see, I'm a military brat, and for 18ish years, my life was the five of us. Friendships came and went. Then my dad met someone else recently, and the closeness of my family shattered. In some sense of the word. Me, my mom, and my sisters are all still close. My dad gave up. (Something I didn't note before: my childhood was spent being wounded and healing over and over again by my father's alcoholism.) I resent my father so much now...that I'm stuck. I'm stuck praying that I can get some sort of relationship from him...one I thought we were building. But, because of his actions, my mom, the rope that tied us all together...that kept him in our lives at least half of the time...moved states away just to find a job. This Christmas is the first I've had, in my life, without my mom around...and I'm stuck. Stuck praying that my dad will change...and remembering all the holidays of the past.

Most often, I find myself stuck when writing. Although I love to write, sometimes writer's block can hit me hard. In that case, I like to take a walk to clear my head and just leave my desk for a while.

Other times, I feel so overwhelmed (usually with work or chores) that I end up just spinning my wheels for a while. During these times, I like to try to do just one thing--even as simple as doing the dishes--to try to give myself a little boost and to feel like I accomplished something :)

I usually find that I'm able to unstick if I share my thoughts with someone else. My husband, a good friend, my mom. Talking through my issues usually allows me to get clarity so I can move past it.

"Fake it till you make" it is my motto for stuck-iness: Putting one foot in front of the other, without thinking about the next few steps... just concentrating on one thing at a time, one step at a time. Eventually, I look back and realize that I have long moved past the "stuck" stage.

When I feel stuck I start off by praying about it. If I can't get myself unstuck the Lord will provide a way.

deep breaths in through the nose and holding it for 4 seconds before letting it out through the mouth. it totally works! gets your blood flowing and refreshes your mind.

When I am feeling stuck, I have to be careful not to get lost in my own head. It is always helpful for me to seek guidance from those in my life whom I trust. Also, if I can get outside, go hiking or fishing, anything that will clear my mind, it helps me tremendously.

This is a great topic! It's easy to get caught in a revolving door of regret/loss/pain and never find the courage to start over. This is a book I definitely want to read and will recommend it to my clients. Thanks for posting this.

I have found through the trials in my life that getting stuck is much easier than getting unstuck. I have come to realize that the best method for me is to just take it one day at a time. Looking back AND looking forward can be dangerous sometimes.

When I'm well and truly stuck.... it takes something outside me to unstick me. Losing or getting a job. Being nudged toward applying to grad school. For recent examples.

When I'm stuck and I know it, I just plod along, and focus really on what's immediately in front of me, ignoring anything that's too big.

I feel like engaging myself with other people - get out and being social, talking to friends and family - helps me get over a funk.

Lists. Lot of list - of things to do, things I've done, things to look forward to. In his case, that might have not been enough. He went through a heavy trauma that I don't know much could have pulled him out of.

When I feel stuck, or hopeless, I too try to focus on the positive things I've got going on. I surround myself with things and people that make me happy. It also helps to take a new look at goals, both short and long term. I find that goals help me get through each day, and sometimes when you're stuck, just readjusting them helps!

The best way to move on, for me, is to shake things up a bit. Whether that's choosing to tackle the same issue from a different perspective, or by walking away from it altogether, doing something else, and then coming back later once I've given my mind time to rest.

I find when I get stuck I have to force myself just to move one little step at a time. I think small changes can make a huge difference on your outlook of life. It's about just getting your feet moving onto that next chapter of your life.

That's a great question. I'm a little stuck on the answer, actually :-). Seriously, though, I think I try to do something different for awhile, something that is easier and might inspire me to get me un-stuck. Or sometimes I just keep plugging away at it until I come up with something different on my own. It depends on the issue/project/area of my life in how I deal with it. And writing, of course - writing always helps me!

I am often teetering on the brink of depression, which feels an awful lot like being "stuck." This most often hits when I feel no hope, even if that hope denotes the small pleasures in life. So I find getting excited about life's small moments (a coffee, a TV show, a weekend getaway) keeps me from getting stuck.

When I'm feeling stuck, I try to do something totally different and out of my comfort zone. Even if it's a total disaster, It helps me appreciate where I am. Now and then, I find I'm able to do something I never thought I could do.

I think that this really applies to the blog world as well . I see so many posts where people only post the happy moments of their life and then when you read back through them it looks so perfect, but in reality we all have our ups and downs.

When I'm stuck I talk to my husband. We talk things through and figure out the best course of action and whether or not it works and I'm back at square 1 I always feel better after talking it out.

I find something--anything--to look forward to. And if there isn't something, I'll create something. As in, a date with a girlfriend for a glass of wine & some venting. Or a fun trip with my toddler.

Like some of the other commenters mentioned, I also make lists. Having goals gives me something to focus on. Crossing things off makes me feel accomplished.