Getting unstuck

Insurance Insights | December 15, 2017

Getting unstuck

Many people feel stuck. Chances are that right this moment you feel stuck in one or more areas of your life. Between a relationship spinning its wheels, your job not fulfilling you, and family problems, there are probably things in your life that aren’t working as well as they could.Wouldn’t it be great to get unstuck? Here are three simple (but not easy) steps to do just that:

  • Recognize you’re stuck in the first place
  • Accept that problems never go away
  • Take responsibility for everything happening in your life

Get presentIt’s one thing to be stuck and know it. But it’s a whole ‘nother animal if you don’t even realize you’re stuck. What’s worse, being unaware that you’re stuck will not make the pain of being stuck go away.However, pain is very useful because it’s a warning sign from your mind and body that you need to get in action to solve a problem. So don’t your discomfort, but listen to it. Get present to your situation even if you really don’t want to open your eyes to the messes in your life.In other words: admit you have a problem.AcceptanceYour problems will not go away – and that’s a good thing, because otherwise you would be bored out of your mind. Accepting that there will always be a level of discomfort in your life helps you move forward despite the difficulties.If this seems like resignation, think again. The distinction between healthy acceptance and dismal resignation couldn’t be clearer: they’re polar opposites.Resignation is a prison cell, while acceptance is freedom because you are choosing to accept life the way it is, not the way you want it to be. In what seems like a contradiction, it becomes easier to transform things only after you first accept them.Take responsibilityYou cannot chose to have no problems in your life, but you can chose how to respond in any given situation. In all our interactions with other people and the world in general, we are the common factor, meaning our words and actions are the only things fully subject to our control.Because taking responsibility in this way is not the default mode of being for most people, these ideas can feel threatening and confronting for many people. Note that taking responsibility is not the same as taking blame: it’s not your fault something negative has happened in your life, but it is now your responsibility to clean it up.Taking responsibility transforms you from being a victim blowing in the wind at the whim of circumstance into a force of nature. It enables you to take ownership of your life and move forward unimpeded by a victimhood mentality. It also frees you to act by clearing away your baggage.Are you ready to get unstuck? Drop us a comment below and let’s have a conversation.