We’ve all experienced it—that paralyzing feeling of being stuck in life. Whether it’s in our careers, relationships, or personal growth, these periods of apathy can feel like insurmountable walls. I’ve been there, gripped by the frustration of not knowing what to do next. It’s a never-ending loop of despair until you uncover a crucial lesson: the most important factor in a happy life is your mindset. Here’s what my experiences have taught me.
In moments of feeling stuck, our initial reaction might be frustration or despair. I can’t even write, and sleeping is my best way of getting out of anxiety. I would say that feeling stuck is one of the strongest life-sucking feelings. Yes, it’s a feeling, not a situation.
Strangely, once we’re out of it, we wonder why we ever felt stuck. Suddenly, something shifts, and the wheel of motion starts turning again. But here’s the thing: It does not have to be an external change, such as a new job or a new relationship, that gets the juice going in life again. In fact, I would say that the strongest contributor to getting out of the feeling of being stuck is inside ourselves.
I would say that this insight is the greatest giver of happiness in life. Acceptance of what is.
When we feel stuck, we are trying to reach for something out of reach. Focusing on what we can control—our thoughts, actions, and responses—rather than being consumed by what we cannot is the way forward.
Looking at the endless horizon of ambition, we lose sight of where we are.
No, I am not saying that we can only live in the now because that does not help me. I want to grow in life and feel excited about the future. Sometimes even live in the future. Hey, the spiritual world even says that we should envision ourselves in the future that we want to get. I am sure you have heard it all before.
It may seem that we should be but, we are not superheroes. We cannot always control our response, which leads to the feeling of being stuck. Begin by embracing your current state, however uncomfortable it may be.
Each time I have been stuck in life, this has been the most important thing I could do to get going again.
I would also like to remind you of the impermanence of our struggles. Trying to embrace that feeling stuck is a process and a part of the journey. We can even expect the feeling of being stuck to come back.
“Preparatio malorum,” said the ancient Stoics, meaning that we should even prepare for the feeling of being stuck next time. I disagree; if we could prepare for not feeling stuck, we would constantly keep moving.
I would say that philosophical and psychological thought is vibrantly clear. We are born to evolve, constantly pushing beyond our limits in a relentless pursuit of growth and self-actualization. From Aristotle’s potentiality to Nietzsche’s Übermensch, our essence is defined by an unending journey toward higher states of being.