by April Mims

Created on: May 02, 2008   Last Updated: November 06, 2011

Many of us get to a point in our lives or careers where we feel frustrated, stuck and unable to move. And we just don't know what to do about it. Some people call it being stuck in a rut. Regardless of what you call it, getting beyond the impasse is necessary to get you back on track and moving forward in your life or career. This is the time to alter your thinking and your actions and make a change for the better! There are many, many different ways to begin moving forward. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

First, ask yourself in what way(s) you feel stuck. Be very specific and list every detail about your situation. This is not a time to come up with solutions so don't get caught up in trying to identify answers just yet. You are simply clarifying your thoughts and feelings about your situation.

Next, identify what moving forward looks like to you. Again, you aren't looking for solutions yet! You are identifying your destination where you want to go. Just as you wouldn't get in the car and drive without a specific location in mind, aimlessly wandering around in your life or career will get you lost and in need of direction.

Now that you know where you are and where you want to be, it's time to bridge the gap and create an action plan to identify the necessary steps to get you there. For most people, this is the most difficult step because we have a tendency to continue using our current thoughts and processes. This is the time to break away from the ordinary and be willing to experiment and learn. Below are a few ideas to help get the juices flowing.

Brainstorm. Write down every idea you come up with, no matter how wild or unrealistic it may seem. Sometimes the ideas from far left-field are the best ones.

Break the problem into parts. Smaller, more manageable pieces are less overwhelming. Tackling one thing at a time keeps progress moving forward and gives you small victories to keep you motivated.

Talk it out. Discuss your situation with someone else. A fresh perspective can help you see things you may have missed before. Because we are all unique, different experiences, thought processes and approaches can lead us to alternative solutions. Just hearing yourself state the problem aloud can often provide greater clarity as well.

Seek professional help. While this is similar in ways to talking it out, hiring a professional life coach or career specialist can provide you with a needed push and accountability to get you through the process. There are many life coaches and career specialists that can help you get back on track. These experts are specially trained and have experience helping other clients get unstuck.

You now know where you are, where you want to be and have the ideas and support to get you there. Ask yourself what the first action step needs to be. Then take action on that step! Getting unstuck is not always an easy process but is necessary to help us grow and learn and to not become stagnate. Throughout our life journey we will inevitably experience these feelings at some point. The people that wait for things to happen will be left with the frustration while the people that take action will move forward and soar to great things!

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