Ever been stuck? I don’t mean stuck as in when that pesky bike cleat fails to unfasten from your clip, but rather, the kind of stuck you feel when you can either stay in your current situation (job, relationship, city, etc.) feeling unhappy yet being somewhat “okay,” or choose a new path that is likely to be filled with unexpected twists and a brand new set of difficulties.

This type of stuckness is very common for many people.  Sometimes we get into ruts and feel as though we are not completely satisfied with where we are, yet we are either too unsure or too scared to make a move in another direction. While an experience like this may occur in many of our lives, it is important not to ignore this stuckness when it arises, especially if the feeling is not going away. 

A research study from 2011 explored the dynamic of getting stuck in a rut and discovered that a person’s inability to disengage from a rut, rather than just a depressed mood alone, can be an indicator for depression. This research tells us that ignoring the signs of your unhappiness can lead to a slippery slope of creating an even greater obstacle from which you have to dig yourself out.

So in the spirit or spring and everything this season of new life has to offer, now is an opportune time to check in with where you are, what you are doing, and how you are feeling; and if necessary, take steps to get yourself unstuck. Whether it is by changing your direction or by redefining your expectations so you can enjoy where you are today, give yourself a chance to feel revitalized and break free from the stuckness.

Feeling “stuck” is a universal experience that comes up with nearly all of the clients who come to see me. The work I do with my clients involves helping them take control over their stories of the stuckness and helping them to nurture the confidence for creating a life they deserve.

References:

Holtzheimer, Paul E. & Mayberg, Helen S., Stuck in a Rut: Rethinking Depression and Its Treatment. Trends in Neurosciences, Volume 34, 1-9, January 2011.