Why It’s OK To Feel Stuck and Five Ways to Work Through It

We’ve all been there. I definitely have. On more than one occasion. That moment when it feels like life’s on pause, and no matter how hard you push, you’re just not moving forward. It’s frustrating, disheartening, and can make you question everything. But here’s the thing – it’s perfectly okay to feel stuck. It’s a natural part of life, and it might just be the catalyst you need for something amazing, says healthy habit coach and entrepreneur, Loz Antonenko.

Stuck reality

Let’s get one thing straight: feeling stuck is a universal experience. It doesn’t matter how successful or together someone’s life looks from the outside. Everyone has moments when they feel like they’re spinning their wheels. This isn’t a sign of failure or incompetence. It’s simply a sign that you’re human.

Life isn’t a straight line. It’s a series of twists, turns, ups, and downs. Sometimes, those twists and turns lead us to a dead end or spot where we need to pause and reassess. I had to embrace these moments as crucial for growth. This gave me a chance to reflect on where I am, where I want to go, and what changes I need to make to get there.

Growth happens in the stuck space

When you’re stuck, you’re actually in a prime position for growth. Think of it like this: when you’re moving at full speed, it’s hard to see the details around you. But when you slow down or stop, you have the opportunity to notice things you might have missed.

Feeling stuck forces you to look inward. For me, it was a chance to evaluate my goals, values, and passions. Was I on the right path? Was there something I was ignoring that needed my attention? These moments of introspection can lead to significant breakthroughs.

Patience is a skill

Like Ferris wisely said in Ferris Beauler’s Day Off, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” The world we live in seems to be hurtling at 1000 kilometres an hour. Instant gratification is the norm. People want quick fixes and immediate results. But real, meaningful change takes time. Feeling stuck taught me the power of patience.  That progress isn’t always about constant forward motion. It meant sitting with discomfort, letting things unfold, and trusting the process.

Patience develops resilience. It taught me to cope with uncertainty and remain hopeful even when things aren’t going as planned. This resilience ultimately helped me overcome obstacles and emerge stronger on the other side.

All about perspective

One of the most powerful things you can do when you’re feeling stuck is to reframe your perspective. Instead of seeing it as a negative, view it as an opportunity. I now ask myself – what can I learn from this experience? How can I grow? What new paths might this detour reveal?

Sometimes, feeling stuck is a sign that you need to take a different approach. Maybe you’ve been focusing too much on one aspect of your life and neglecting others. Perhaps you need to explore new interests, develop new skills, or make significant changes. Use this time to experiment, try new things, and see where they lead you.

You’ve a friend in me

You don’t have to go through this alone. When things were tough for me, I’d reach out to friends, family, or a mentor. Talking about my feelings provided a new perspective, or ideas weren’t considered. Professional help, like therapy or coaching, was incredibly beneficial. They can offer strategies and tools to help you navigate this period and come out the other side with a clearer sense of direction.

All about the journey

Feeling stuck is part of the journey, not the end. Embrace it for what it is – a natural, albeit uncomfortable, phase of life. Use this time to reflect, grow, and explore. Trust that you will move forward when the time is right. It’s okay to feel stuck. It’s a sign that you’re alive, learning, and evolving.

Next time you find yourself in that frustrating pause, take a deep breath, look around, and ask yourself what this moment is trying to teach you. You might be surprised at the answers you find.