Getting "unstuck": Why you feel like life is happening without you

A common complaint I hear from people today is that they feel "stuck", and that their current life circumstances are holding them back.

Do you feel this in some way? Did the headline strike a chord with you?

Or maybe you don't know if you are stuck or not! And that's okay, some times it is difficult to detail exactly what you are going through.

I know that the feeling of being stuck can be very debilitating and defeating, because as humans we need to feel as if we are moving forward.

That feeling of having a purpose, a momentum towards something, is essential to living a fulfilled life.

And this feeling of being blocked can show up in multiple aspects of our life and often having a domino affect.

Maybe you are unhappy in your job and do not see a future with it, that alone can leave you feeling defeated in your happiness and well being.

Being stuck can also impact your health negatively since the body and mind work together as one.

Feeling stuck not only refers to your external circumstance, but it can also block healthy emotional response, confidence, and motivation.

In this three part series I am going to detail the ways in which you can be stuck, how to identify where you want to be, and how to start building momentum.

In this first part I am going to help you identify if you may be stuck in any of the three big categories: career, relationship, self image.

As with all my work, I like to list out different circumstances to help you identify your feelings. I too have felt stuck many times and know it can feel discouraging.

Here are some of the ways it could show up:

CAREER

• You are not fulfilled by the work you do
• You feel as though you are not making a difference
• You can't identify how your work contributes to a bigger mission
• Nothing about your work excites you
• There is no future career path or promotion
• You dread going into work
• You aren't connecting with the people you work with
• You don't feel supported in enhancing your career

RELATIONSHIP - romantic and platonic

• You are craving deeper friendships and people you can trust
• Your current friends do not share the same mindset as you
• You often feel dragged down by the friends you have
• You are wanting a romantic relationship but feel it's not possible
• You are in a relationship but do not feel fulfilled
• You do not feel supported and cared for by those close to you
• You keep attracting the wrong type of person
• You can't identify what is even important to you in a partner
• The people closest to you make you feel anxious or uneasy
• You have trouble connecting to people

SELF IMAGE

• You lack self confidence
• You are unsure of what your natural strengths and talents are
• You are quick to judge yourself and others
• You often let fear, judgement, and negativity take control
• You want to foster a connection with yourself but don't know how
• Poor self image has affected your relationships
• You feel as if you can't have certain things because of these thoughts
• You easily settle into your comfort zone, not expecting much from yourself

Did any of the above resonate with you? Maybe you were able to identify with an aspect from each category.

Or did one category really stick out to you? I think it is common for people to feel dragged down by one thing in particular, therefore affecting everything else.

Whether you identified with them or not, I am here to tell you it is okay!

This is not meant to shame or discourage you, rather it is a catalyst for your growth. You cannot get to where you want to be unless you acknowledge your current situation.

I too felt very stuck in my life at one point. Nothing was going my way and my dreams felt too out of reach.

At the time I didn't know exactly how to describe it, I just felt as if something was missing from my life.

Looking back I am able to see that I was definitely stuck. I felt discouraged because I had no forward momentum.

Change felt too overwhelming but I knew that I couldn't stay in my current lifestyle.

I was not taking care of my health, physical or mental. I was partying too much and letting anxiety take over my life. I didn't leave any time to connect with what I was feeling.

Instead of gaining any traction I settled in my comfort zone (which at the time was fear, anxiety, and doubt) and only dreamt of what I didn't have.

At that point in my life I was able to identify with all the points I listed above. I was unhappy at work, mainly because of the people I was surrounded by. I felt some fulfillment by the actual job but the people were toxic.

I wanted to be in a meaningful relationship but had trouble identifying what was important to me in a partner. Again I let anxiety and fear take over.

I also wanted to be connected to myself, fully confident in the person I was. But instead I let my negative thoughts about my body affect how I viewed myself overall. I didn't feel deserving of confidence.

But even after all that negativity and darkness I am forever grateful for that time. Without it, I would not be here today helping you get there too.

So if you feel you are stuck and have no hope in moving forward, I'm here to help. It may not feel like it but this is an exciting time!

The universe is pushing you towards growth and becoming your most authentic self.

Here's to creating the life you want!

Annie