Apr 30, 2019
You know those awful dreams where you're desperately trying to run away from someone or something and you can't get away? You feel like your feet are stuck in blocks of cement. And when you try to scream for help, all that comes out is air. I've had that same kind of dream more times than I would like to admit. Regardless of the scenario, the theme is the same: I can't get away because I'm not in control. Sometimes we can feel like that in real life too. You want to get ahead in your business. But no matter what you do, you just can't take it to the next level. Or maybe it's your relationship. You used to laugh and play and go on dates. But not anymore. Or maybe you feel like you've lost a piece of yourself, and you can't figure out why you just don't have the same gusto or energy you used to have. Related: Perseverance in Your Business: How to Keep Going When You Want to Give Up Feeling stuck is hard. But you know what? This is not a bad dream where you can't run away or scream for help. This is real life, and you are more in control than you realize. With a few small changes, you can regain momentum and get unstuck. Today, I want to share five practical steps you can take to get back to pursuing your goals. Five Steps to Help You Get Unstuck Step 1: Go Back to Your Why We talk about your why all the time at Business Boutique. Knowing it will answer questions like: Why are you doing this? Why is this important to you? Why does this type of success matter to you? I love that these questions can apply to any area of your life-parenting, goal-setting, your marriage, your business, etc. Wherever you're feeling stuck, remind yourself why this thing or person or work is a gift from God. When you go back to your original motivation, you return to a perspective you probably lost along the way-when you got busy, tired and stuck. Let your why reignite the fire within you. Step 2: Get Moving The very meaning of the word stuck means a lack of movement. But it's a lot easier to stay moving once you get moving. That's why your only objective in this step is to take a baby step toward some kind of physical activity. For some, that might be just getting out of bed and putting on clean clothes. For others, it's putting on makeup or going for a walk. Don't think about all the things you need to do yet; focus on the smallest step you can take to get moving. It doesn't have to be directly related to your end goal either. Even just going for a run can you give you the energy you need to get back to work. Step 3: Focus on One Thing at a Time A long to-do list is overwhelming. When you look at all the work that needs to get done, it's easy to believe you can't accomplish all of it. Instead, I want you to pick the most urgent task and focus on completing just that one thing. Checking off the first activity from your list will give you a great sense of satisfaction. It's a quick win, and it's progress. And any progress is positive. Step 4: Change What You Say We have a tendency to make our problems bigger with the words we use. Confession: I'm the queen of this. If I'm a little overwhelmed, I magnify the issue by talking about it a lot. Related: Is It Fear, or Wisdom? If you only think about how overwhelmed you are and how stuck you feel, then that's exactly where you're going to stay. You fan the flame when you talk about it day in and day out. That's why Step 4 is to change your attitude and change your words. I love how Brené Brown puts it: "Talk to yourself like you would someone you love." Step 5: Pray The power of prayer is real. If God cares about every dream in your heart, don't you think He cares that you're feeling stuck? He's a way-maker. He makes a way when there seems to be no other way. If you've never experienced this, start now. I want to encourage you to pray about the big things and the small things and everything in between. Related:...