Getting Unstuck: Moving Forward To Success

Ever find yourself stuck in that awful loop of inactivity? You circle around and around between wanting to move forward and then apathy? Covering the same ground and never moving forward? It could be that you are stuck in the web of your own comfort zone. It's a place we hang out at that's routine, predicable and safe. We've stopped growing, taking risks, and seeking. We can get stuck eating certain foods for comfort, not taking the risk to lose weight, not choosing the next step to overcome an eating disorder, or not getting started at that creative project you already know you would succeed at. The comfort zone offers a safe shelter, a familiar beaten path for us to follow. As long as we stay within the protected shelter, we feel secure and safe in what is already known.

However the cost we pay for allowing ourselves to stay stuck is extremely high. Resisting change and avoiding risks exhausts your life energy. We end up feeling lethargic, energetically drained. Continuing to do the same thing day after day, year after year, can leave us in a motionless rut. Within the comfort zone exists narrow thinking, a lack of creativity, and monotonous actions and reactions. A sense of emptiness prevails as inner dreams and aspirations lie dormant. Our position of inactivity is rationalized with excuses. Then we hammer in our position with the words, "I can't". We feel paralyzed by our fears, real or imagined.

MEANING OF STUCK

Stuck implies lying balanced in inertia and fear of the unknown. The longer we wait to choose, the deeper we bury ourselves in future problems. Inaction is created as we put up barriers within ourselves. Internally, we block off emotions and refuse to feel them. We avoid looking at the truth and pretend that everything's OK. We refuse to acknowledge that there is trouble. We think one way, but feel another.

The most common barrier is not listening to our hearts. When we cut ourselves off emotionally, we sever the connection that allows our love to flow outward. Sometimes this action is necessary, but it always comes at a great price. The price is your creativity, joy, and love. You are cut off from your own heart, or your own life's purpose.

Being stuck occurs when we are not willing to accept some truth about our self or the situation. Perhaps we are choosing to trade a piece of ourselves to create harmony. Maybe we choose to turn the other cheek regarding unpleasing issues. What are you really feeling? Are you resisting tender feelings because you might be hurt? Are you furious even though you're smiling? What are you refusing to look at?

ACTIONS THAT ACCOMPANY BEING STUCK

blocking emotions

denying true feelings

stifling a natural response

keeping another at arm's length

hiding distress

turning a deaf ear

being defensive

maintaining your cool

avoiding the truth

refusing to look at facts

pretending everything's fine

ignoring the warning signs

closing your eyes to what's going on

avoiding an unpleasantness

choosing not to know

feeling afraid to act

reaching an impasse

refusing to decide

being unwilling to rock the boat

staying on the fence

QUESTIONS

An important aspect to look at is that there is always a payoff for the action (or non-action) we choose. You are 100% responsible for your own life. Be willing to acknowledge (without self-judgement or criticism) that you alone are keeping yourself stuck. Let go of blaming yourself, your background, parents, partner, friends, education, etc. You can not master what you do not understand. And understanding is incomplete without compassion. If you are stuck, it is important that you ask yourself, "What is my payoff for staying stuck? What am I getting out of it?" Be honest with yourself, even if it hurts. If you can't figure out what you are getting out of it, ask someone close to you. They may know the answer right away.

* How does staying stuck serve you?

* Do you really want to move forward?

* If so, what are you choosing to be your reason for staying stuck?

* How would moving forward serve you?

* What percent of you is ready to change?

* How supported do you feel about life?

Staying stuck also means that you are not clear about the issues holding you back. Take time to ask yourself what's really going on. The following are some possibilities:

* I'm afraid.

* I'm overwhelmed.

* I don't know what step to take first.

* I fear failure.

* I fear success.

* I fear both success and failure.

* There's no order to what I want to accomplish.

* What's known seems more comfortable than the unknown.

* I don't want to deal with this right now.

* I'm too _______________ to handle this.

* I don't want to let go.

* I'm not sure what invisible force is holding me back.

Copyright 2005, Dr. Annette Colby, all rights reserved.

Dr. Annette Colby, RD
Nutrition Therapist & Master Energy Healer
Annette@AnnetteColby.com
972.985.8750

"Opening Creative Portals to Success"

For free inspirational newsletter, articles & info visit:http://www.LovingMiracles.com

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Coaching Information:

Related Articles

An Example of Allowing a Desire to Arrive on Its Own
I don't know why, but it seems we trip over the "allowing" part of the Deliberate Attraction formula more often than the other two parts. The Deliberate Attraction formula gives us a simple description of how to leverage the Law of Attraction so we can attract more of what we DO want and enjoy.
Let's Say You're a Dog. Are You So Competitive You'd Eat a Carrot?
Seems like a gal always learns something out on the farm! Yes, it's a farm tale and I'm going to change the names of the animals to protect the guilty!I spent last weekend down in Lower Alabama where my friend from high school owns a farm. On the neighboring property there lives a donkey we'll call "Jake.
Aim For Your Star
"Aim for your star, no matter how far, you must reach high above and touch your life with love, you must never look back, but charge on! Attack! See your goal your star of desire, see it red hot, feel it burning, you must be obsessed with it to make it your true yearning, be ready my friends for when you truly believe it, you will certainly achieve it and by all of God's universal laws you will always receive it!"Bob Smith(American editor, author, founder of Orison Swett Marden Foundation)Are you disappointed, discouraged and discontented with your present level of success? Are you secretly dissatisfied with your present situation? Do you want to become a better and more beautiful person than you are today? Do you want weight loss, or an end to food obsession? How about inner peace?Yes, you can have what you want! Of course you can. But accomplishing your goals while at the same time feeling inner peace means doing things differently than you've done them before.
Developing Will Power and Self Discipline
Most people admire and respect strong individuals, who have won great success by manifesting will power and self discipline. They admire people, who with sheer will power, self discipline and ambition, have improved their life, learned new skills, overcame difficulties and hardships, reduced their weight, rose high in their chosen field or advanced on the spiritual path.
Is Your Life In Motion?
Ever since the Internet bubble and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I've seen many people; including friends and family lose their jobs and/or personal fortunes overnight. The struggling economy has been merciless on the job market.
Unhook From The Perpetual Progress Grid
I have been a member of a group called the Women in BusinessConnection (WIBC for short) in Cambridge, MA for about fouryears. We get together for lunch meetings once a month.
Stay Connected To WHY You Are Doing Things
"The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work." Richard BachThis quote was shared with me by a fellow coach & colleague.
Training is Not the Same Thing as Exercising
What it takes to GROW!In almost every workshop we deliver, we try to teach the principle that the mind is a muscle. What does this mean? Well, your mind and really your whole life operate on the same growth and strengthening principles as any muscle in your body, and almost everyone misunderstands what it takes to make a muscle grow.
How to be Your Authentic Self
Most of us play many different roles in the course of any given day. We could be Mom, Boss, Employee, Student or Friend, to name just a few.
The Fastest Way to Ruin Yourself
I don't know many people who would admit to wanting to ruin themselves, but there are a lot of people who are doing everything they can to accomplish that very goal. They certainly don't see it that way, but if you look at the way they live, you can see it happening.
Negotiating Difficult Life Transitions
Life is a process of beginnings and endings. In both life and nature, there are times when things move slowly and don't seem to change very much.
Getting What You Need: Ask For Help!
"Fortune befriends the bold." - John DrydenI regularly work with clients on making major life changes in line with a new definition of personal success.
Can I Be My Own ADD Coach?
Quite often I am in contact with people who discuss acting as an ADD Coach for their child or spouse. While supporting and helping loved ones with ADD is a great idea, acting as an ADD Coach really isn't a great idea.
What Does It Take To Have It All In Life?
Many people have asked me why I wrote my book, 'The Street Kid's Guide to Having it All', and I realized that some people simply do not believe that it is possible to 'have it all'. Well, I am here as an ambassador to dispel that rumor once and for all.
Value Based Leadership Coaching
What can I do to be a better coach? The Eight Step Coaching Model describes the process, yet too often the focus is on techniques only. "How can I say it to win my point, get others to do things my way, or convince them?" Focusing only on one technique is fundamentally manipulative.
Coaching is Asking the Right Questions
Have you ever known anyone who asked themselves "Why me?" over and over every time something happened they didn't like? Or how about, "What did I do to deserve this?" And my favorite, "Whose fault was that?" Perhaps, these questions have popped into your head once or twice before.When we ask ourselves questions, our brain hunts for the answer.
We Are Exactly Where We Choose to Be
The idea for this month's newsletter came from an unlikely encounter: I recently had lunch with a new friend named Rick Rockwell. You may remember him as the bachelor from the first-ever reality TV show, "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?"During our meeting, Rick described some of the knowledge he gained from doing the show, along with a few of past his experiences in business, ethics, and of course, primetime romance.
Building a Strong Coaching Practice
As a person who has been around the coaching profession for a number of years, I wish I could say that my practice is full right now. But the fact is that I've been pursuing TV gigs in the last few years and haven't put much emphasis on building my individual coaching practice.
If I Only Had a Heart
I know you probably have heard of the movie, "The Wizard of Oz" right? Well, for those of you, who have somehow managed to miss this movie, let me give you a brief description of it.A young lady named Dorothy is upset with her home life and decides to run away.
Five Steps to Vocational Passion: A Disciplined Plan for Major Mid-life Changes
There's a famous song lyric that asks: "Is that all there is?" Every seven seconds, an American turns 50 years old. So there's a good chance that song is running through some of their heads.