Stuck
Adjective
unable to move, or set in a particular position, place, or way of thinking
Do any of these definitions of stuck describe you?
- be fixed in a particular position or unable to move or be moved
- be unable to progress with a task or find the answer or solution to something
- remain in a static condition; fail to progress
- be or remain in a specified place or situation, typically one perceived as tedious or unpleasant
There are times in our careers when all of us have felt stuck. It could be that there was no further room for advancement in a role. Or maybe you had a ton of personal stuff happening in your life that didn’t leave a lot of mental energy for giving 110% at work. Or maybe it was a mismatch of skills and expectations that made it difficult to be successful in that role.
Being stuck doesn’t have to be a bad thing. There are seasons in life when you need your job to be more on auto-pilot. I’ve talked to lots of people who need exactly this in situations like when providing care to small children or aging parents or when the storms of life are rocking the boat (death / divorce / drama). If that’s the season of life you find yourself in, know that you’re not alone. Make sure you have a solid support system in place to help you get through it.
Meanwhile, if you’re in a role right now where you feel like you’re “phoning it in” vs. giving it your best effort, do you feel stuck? How long have you been feeling that way? There’s no shame in getting stuck. The key question you need to ask yourself is, “What am I willing to do to get unstuck?”
If you’re ready to start living your best life and doing your best work, I’m here to help!