Stuck in a Rut?

There are times in life when what we want seems to be out of our reach and gaining control appears to be impossible. Going through life is similar to swimming. If you are in the water, and you are not moving

forward, then you are usually sinking. You can tread water, but you’re still not going anywhere, and if you don’t take steps to swim forward you may end up drowning. Being in a rut is similar to treading water. Choosing not to do anything is really choosing to do nothing.

You can get stuck in a rut for many reasons. Sometimes life can throw too much at you, leaving you unprepared to deal with everything that’s going on in your life. Other times you may simply be unsure of where you want go next in life. One thing is for sure; you can’t stay still. Life continues to change whether you want it to or not. The way to successfully have the life you desire is to create a game plan and follow through with it.

Everyone gets stuck in life once in a while; you are human after all. Even the most successful people have been through times when they got stuck and were feeling like they had little or no direction. You are not alone. The good thing about getting stuck in a rut is that it is only temporary. Although you may feel like it will last forever when you’re in the rut and looking for a way out, once you find an effective and realistic plan, you’ll be on the move in no time.

The following are all signs that you need to figure out how to get out of a rut in life.

YOU DON’T HAVE ENERGY

Oftentimes, you know what you need to do in order to be happier and more fulfilled, but you just don’t have the energy. You may know that you need to exercise in order to have energy. But you just don’t have the energy to exercise. The truth is that you adopt positive habits that will give you energy, instead of waiting for energy to appear.

YOU’RE NOT EXCITED FOR THE DAY

When you’re in an emotional rut, you’re feeling down, but you can’t seem to get up off the couch and take action. You hit snooze button a few times before you finally roll out of bed. You feel you have nothing to look forward to. You must interrupt these damaging patterns before they steal your dreams.

YOU STAY IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE

This is a more subtle way to be stuck in a rut. You may not feel bad outright, but have a sense that you’re not living up to your full potential. Personal growth is essential to living a fulfilled life – if you’re not growing, you are not moving in a positive direction. Look for opportunities to grow daily: read, exercise, mentor a colleague, volunteer for a school or non-profit organization. You get what you give, so give a lot. .

IDENTIFYING WHY YOU’RE STUCK IN A RUT

There are many ways that we can get stuck in a rut, but there is only one cause: humans are wired to avoid pain and seek pleasure. While you may not feel at your best in your current state, you do feel comfortable. You know what to expect. You know that getting out of a rut is going to involve effort – and maybe even pain and failure. To identify why you’re stuck in a rut with life, think about how your decisions fulfill your need for certainty – and how you can turn this human need into a positive rather than a negative.

HOW TO GET OUT OF A RUT IN LIFE

Being stuck in a rut isn’t a physical state or the result of your circumstances. It’s a state of mind, and it can be overcome. Creating new habits in order to make new connections are key to getting out of a rut.

1. GET OUT OF DENIAL

People who are stuck in a rut often make excuses about why they can’t do this or don’t have time for that. But the most successful people in the world take total responsibility for their lives. Stop blaming others for the way you feel and behave. Realize that your life is a result of your decisions alone. As Tony Robbins says, “Using the power of decision gives you the capacity to get past any excuse to change any and every part of your life in an instant.”

2. UNCOVER THE REAL REASON

Discovering how to get out of a rut in life involves looking inward, not outward. You must identify your limiting beliefs, the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and hold us back from becoming what we could be. Next time you want to make an excuse, recognize that it’s your limiting beliefs talking – and turn them into empowering beliefs instead.

3. TURN A SHOULD INTO A MUST

What will you regret more in your life: wasting it with inaction and indecision, or getting out there and taking a chance? When you’re old and gray, looking back on your life, would you rather be saying “I should have done this” or “I lived life to the fullest”? If you’re stuck in a rut with life, reframe your choices as “must do,” not “should do.”

4. CREATE HEALTHY HABITS

The endless loop of being stuck in a rut is often caused by lack of energy. You know you need to make changes, but you don’t have the drive. To get the energy you need, you create healthy habits. Improve what you do on a daily basis so that you are moving in a positive direction. .

5. GET SUPPORT

Getting out of a rut isn’t always easy. The human brain gets stuck in its ways. It can be difficult to hold ourselves accountable. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help. Remember that none of us is smarter than all of us.