“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”~Steve Jobs
We have all been there.
Feeling like we are in such a rut that it would take a steam shovel to dig us out. Once we are there we can’t see a way out even though the answer might be very simple.
We are always looking for the most complicated reason we can find of why we are stuck because we believe it has to be complicated or we would have fixed it already! We then miss the truly simple reasons that will allow us to get “unstuck” and move forward.
Being stuck is a part of life’s journey and we find ourselves there for lots of reasons usually when we feel like we are on a dead end path in our jobs, relationships or when we are really trying to change our lives.
But how do you get “unstuck” once you get there?
My answer: Keep it simple! And here’s some suggestions:
Time management~ mismanagement of your time can easily put you in a deep rut that sounds like “I don’t have enough time to pursue the life I want to live.” We all have the same 24 hours in a day (thanks Marie) to pursue that new job, your dream or new relationship but we can waste all of our precious time spinning our wheels. Do you really need to check Facebook , Twitter or email every hour? What if you set aside a part of your day, yes block it out on your calendar, to find out what would light up your world, or research the job market, or cultivate a new relationship. Would that not be a better use of your time?
Organizing~goes hand and hand with time management and being disorganized can also stick you in the same rut. Paying attention to the little things, like organizing your time, which leads to your schedule, which leads to your calendar (do you see the theme here?) can bring your life back into focus and get you out of that rut. Also organizing your environment, your desk, house and car will clear your mind and expand your time.
Now a side note here: these two simple changes are easy if you take them slowly. You cannot wake up one morning and decide that you are going to change your time management schedule and organize your whole existence in one day. Take one area of each and apply them daily. Baby steps will get you there with your sanity intact.
Shake up your daily habits~which will reengage your brain. Choose a different route to work, take your lunch at a different time or do your morning routine in a different order. Shake up those brain cells so you can “unstick” your thoughts. Changing those patterns makes you more open to receive new information coming into your life and help you with the first two suggestions, time management and organization.
Trust your intuition and your heart~(so true Steve Jobs) they will move you forward if you trust the direction they take you. We are always challenging these two with the “I can’t’s and I really shouldn’t” monologue. So stop those mantras and try just listening to what is truly being said. The answer you need to “unstick” your life might be whispered in your ear.
Stay focused~ on where you are right now. Being stuck can also be the way to deal with a past issue that really needs your attention. Sit with the issue if it presents itself and see what it can teach you. Try to stay focused on today and again use baby steps to help get you out of your rut!
I hope these simple steps WILL help you start the process of getting “unstuck” and moving into a life you love. Be gentle with yourself during the process and remember it will take time so breathe and trust where you are right now.
I would love to hear your thoughts on how these steps helped you and what other things you have found that works for you in your life. So leave a comment in the comment section and share those thoughts with all of us.
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photo credit: 2-Dog-Farm via photopin cc