Getting "Unstuck"

This post was originally published on LinkedIn.

It’s not unusual that a new client comes to me exclaiming, “I’m stuck.”  It happens to the best of us. You’re stuck and cannot move forward with that decision, action, or commitment. You see people around you who appear to never get stuck or, it is fleeting, and they’re on to the next thing. Do they know something you don’t know -- that secret recipe to push themselves into action?

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YOU can get unstuck, and there are some simple things you can do to get started. And, if you’re very motivated to move forward, you can get even more serious with some additional steps. Try just one of these tips and let me know how far you move from stuck.  

Moving Forward

1. Commit to, and then go and finish something you started. Acknowledge yourself when you're done or, even better, share your accomplishment with someone who will celebrate you!
2. List five things you accomplished last year. Tape it to your bathroom mirror.  Leave it there for a week. Read it every morning - out loud.
3. Do one thing every day that feeds your energy (like listening to your favorite music, engaging in a hobby, talking to an old friend, or going to a museum).
4. Do something nice for someone else, anonymously.

Moving Forward in a Big Way

1. Write a news article about yourself in the future (e.g. 10 years from now). Tell the story of how you were stuck and what you did to become unstuck. E-mail it to yourself. Open + read two days later. Do two of the things "the reporter" said you did.
2. Read Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." Commit to two of his recommended actions.
3. Learn a new hobby or skill. Become proficient.
4. Support a cause you've always believed in. Volunteer, donate, or spread the word.

Remember, it’s your choice: You can choose to stay stuck, or you can move forward. As the philosopher Lao-Tzu said, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you’re heading.”

Image source: Pixabay