Is anyone feeling "stuck" these days?
- Stuck in a rut.
- Stuck in a hard place.
- Stuck in a holding pattern.
- Stuck in a dead end job.
- Stuck in a box, confined, limited.
- Stuck at a glass ceiling and unable to move up.
- Stuck in a bad relationship.
- Stuck with a debt you can't get out from under.
- Stuck with a bad deal you never should have made.
- Stuck in an old paradigm.
Stuck . . .
It is a very bad place to be.
(The poor fox has its head stuck in a tire...)
Stuck is demotivating. Stuck is depleting and draining. Stuck is discouraging and depressing. Stuck is monotonous and boring.
Stuck is a very bad place to be.
For when we feel stuck, we become desperate.
When we feel stuck, we are prone to bad decisions. We act rashly and impulsively. We are more likely to do foolish things when we feel stuck. You know that "mid-life" crisis thing you hear about? And how people (especially, but not only men) make really stupid decisions in a mid-life crisis time. Well, the mid-life crisis is, in part, about feeling stuck... trapped... same ole, same ole...
Stuck is not where you want to be.
We are stuck for many reasons. Some of them are external conditions and limitations. Some of the reasons are internal constraints we have that keep us where we are.
If you are stuck, you are most likely the only person who will take responsibility for getting you unstuck. It is unlikely that anyone, other than Christ, is going to to initiate you into a "getting unstuck" process. So, here are a few suggestions for getting unstuck. Get your pen and a piece of paper or journal and start working through them. Do all of what follows in a spirit of prayer.
ONE: Where are you stuck and how long have you been stuck. Describe exactly and fully your experience of being stuck.
TWO: Why are you stuck? How did this happen? What are the external forces contributing to your being stuck (bad economy, bad boss, etc.) and what are the personal forces (fear, discouragement, not trained in a field, a particular character flaw, etc.). It is important that you have clarity about these external and internal forces in light of the next point.
THREE: What can you do to get "unstuck?" Part of this will be coming up with solutions to the causing factors you have just identified. At least on paper, you are going to trouble shoot, problem solve and do some creative envisioning.
FOUR: After you have some decent ideas down on paper, process all this with a friend for their assessment and input.
FIVE: Come up with an Action Plan that has the steps you are going to take to deal with constraints and to move forward.
SIX: Implement this plan relentlessly.
And may Christ be powerfully at work in this "un-stucking process."
Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com
