Idleness and indecisiveness can quite literally put your life on hold. Being “stuck” is one of the most frustrating, uneasy feelings. It makes you question your judgment and your ability to make the right decisions, but there are several things you can do to help gain clarity and ease your mind. While these are not turn-key solutions, they will help you get in a better mental and emotional state so that you can move forward with your life.
Physical Activity
When you’re feeling confused and down, exercise and movement can be the last thing you want to do, but it’s essential to getting your blood flowing, releasing stress and clearing your mind. It doesn’t take much physical activity to help you feel better and gain perspective. A 20 minute jog or a yoga session can greatly reduce stress and help you make important decisions. We highly recommend picking up yoga practice for its incredible proven emotional and physical benefits!
Write a Pros & Cons List
Make a list of the pros and cons of your situation. This will help you identify what’s most important to you and will also help you gain clarity on the best solution. Writing, in general, is a great outlet for expression. Some of us are not great with speaking words, but somehow when we write them everything we feel suddenly flows out authentically. So, write! Whether it’s a pros and cons list, a letter to yourself, a letter to someone else, or a journal. Get everything out by writing it down. This will help your internal thought process flow. You may even find your solution right there in front of you.
Accept Change
If you’re feeling stuck, something has to change. The only way to become “un-stuck” is to make changes. There’s no way around it. It may be uncomfortable and even traumatizing, but in order for us to move forward in life, we need to take action. Change is inevitable and you have to accept that change is part of life, no matter how scary it may feel at times.
Unbiased Advice
Reach out to people who can give you some unbiased advice. Sometimes people who are not as close to a situation can help us see things more clearly. Whether it’s an old friend, a professional therapist, or a mentor, try to gain perspective from someone who is unbiased.
Meditation
We recently covered the incredible benefits of meditation and how it actually changes the structure of your brain by reducing the gray matter that is responsible for stress and increasing the gray matter that is responsible for memory and learning. Studies have found that meditation can also reduce heart attacks and blood pressure, and help us focus for longer periods of time.
By reducing stress and anxiety and increasing focus and learning, you can help clear your mind and make better decisions. Start with meditating 5 minutes per day and if possible, work your way up to 30 minutes per day. Like anything else, the more you practice, the better you’ll become at meditating. Be patient and allow yourself time to master the art of meditation. Here’s a helpful beginner meditation video:
Be Patient & Kind To Yourself
Forcing yourself to make a fast decision and negative self talk will only make you feel more stuck. During these times be kind to yourself and give yourself room to feel a range of emotions. You don’t need to have everything figured out over night. Sometimes it takes days, weeks, even months to figure out what the best course of action is. Don’t make hasty decisions in a state of emotional turmoil. Stop, think, calm down, and take the above healthy action steps to make an informed decision.
How do you get yourself out of feeling “stuck?” Continue the conversation with us on Facebook and Twitter!
