I sat down to write my weekly newsletter and instead ran into a creative brick wall. As a writer and entrepreneur, I know how paralyzing it can be to run into roadblocks. The truth is, adversities are an inevitable part of life.
We have all felt stuck at one point in our lives or the other. Right now, you probably feel trapped in a job you hate, a toxic relationship, debt up to your neck, or have ideas in spades but don’t know where to start. Chances are you are waiting for clarity to keep moving forward. You’re probably even, waiting for the right time to do something different. The problem is, there will never be a right time because life is always happening. You will never make progress if you don’t do the best you can where you are, learn from the results, and keep getting better. Remember, the test is designed to challenge your weaknesses, not your strength.
The truth is, ain’t nobody going to hit harder than life. So while you’re still waiting for an easier way — or a perfect time, someone else is getting results simply because they decided to make progress instead of excuses. Don’t let your ideas live and die in your head, as you execute the better it will get.
5 Strategies to Keep Moving Forward
Whether you feel just a little or a lot stuck, these five strategies can help keep you moving forward.
Slow down to speed up.
The first thing I do, when I feel stuck, is to take a step back. Often, I find that when working with clients sometimes slowing down to get a deeper understanding of the challenge can help to fast track your progress. Sometimes, what can seem like a complex challenge with the right perspective, only requires a gentle nudge instead of brut force. Shifting focus tends to give your brain a chance for quiet; it takes the pressure off so you can come back with a fresh mind and new perspective.
Identify the specific reason you feel stuck.
Most often, to be able to move forward, it’s necessary to pinpoint WHY you are stuck. Finding a good solution forward means uncovering the underlying reason stopping you from progressing. I’ve found that talking it out with someone you trust to help you dig deep or journaling your thoughts can do wonders.
Revisit your WHY.
Feeling stuck is often because you’ve lost sight of your why. Your WHY is the reason you keep going when you want to give up. So when you find during times of setback and adversities revisit your ‘why‘ to feed your inner fire. By reminding yourself of your original intention and purpose, it gives you the intrinsic motivation to get back on track and move ahead.
Be smart enough to realize you need help.
Pause for a minute. Look around and you’ll quickly realize the people who are having massive success also have a support circle. Find yourself a support circle that will hold you to your intentions, helps you problem-solve, give feedback, and inspire you. You’d be surprised by how many people will step up to help if you ask for feedback. But be sure to reciprocate by sharing your wisdom and experience.
Create your own opportunities.
I believe that everything is figure-outable. I realized early on in my life that I had to create my own opportunities because no one will just hand me anything. While things can happen organically, why leave it to chance? One of the best ways to ensure things happen is to be proactive. Get strategic and learn to discern the things happening around you, surround yourself with the right people, and ask for help.
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