March 1, 2024

Feeling Stuck in Life? Practical Ways to Get Going Again

There will come a time in life when you may feel that you are no longer living in the moment. You may look at things going on around you and feel hopeless and stuck, like you’re on autopilot and things just happen to you, rather than you being the one in the driver's seat. Finding a way to get emotionally unstuck so you can enjoy life once again can be key to helping you get the most out of life.

While many things can cause you to get stuck in life - a mental health condition or a traumatic event - there are steps you can take to help yourself get restarted. Some of the best tips include:

Become More Aware

One place you can start when you feel like you’re stuck is your awareness. Consider an examination of your unconscious to see what is going on. You may find that there are cognitive distortions or defense mechanisms that are in place that make it hard to be aware of your surroundings. Perhaps your default patterns in relationships could be to blame. Depending on the situation, you may be able to handle this on your own or you may need to call in a professional.

Take on Responsibility.

According to PsychCentral.com, many people find it easier to blame someone else, rather than take responsibility for their actions. You may not want to admit when you have done something wrong, but it can be freeing. Stop for a moment and take an honest inventory of how well you are behaving and what things you may have done wrong. Practice forgiveness, for others and yourself as well.

Detach from Unrealistic Expectations

We often find that we have unrealistic expectations in life. Whether you are a perfectionist or not, there are times when your expectations of a person or a situation are not realistic and it can lead to a lot of disappointment. You need to start looking at the situation and deciding if your expectations make sense for it or not. When necessary, taper things back a bit to avoid making things impossible for yourself.

Choose Self-Love

It is hard to get going again and enjoy the life you have if you can’t take the time to practice some self-love. The first step to doing this is to make that inner critic go away. When all you hear in your mind are all the ways that you are imperfect and not as good as others, you can feel down and depressed, unmotivated to get much done. Start by showing yourself some compassion and grace and see what a difference it makes.

Ask for Support

Sometimes, you need to bring in some support to give you the help you desire. You are a strong and powerful individual, but you can’t do everything on your own. Bring in some support to see how they can help lift you up to a place where you feel better. This support can come from friends and family members. But be open to seeking help from a professional, such as a therapist. He, or she, can assist you to look deep within yourself as you work through your issues.

Sometimes the circumstances of our lives leave us stuck with a feeling of being on autopilot. But you don’t need to stay in that situation forever. Learning a few simple, practical steps can help you get out of your rut and find a life of enjoyment.

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