Have you ever felt stuck?
You know the feeling - you're not happy with a situation, you know it could be better, you've even tried to make it better. But all of your best efforts still end with the "same old-same old" feeling - STUCK!
Well, you are not alone, it's a very big club.
In fact, when I ask this question in seminars, just about everyone raises their hand. I have a strong suspicion hose who don't raise their hand are the folks who would never raise their hand in public no matter what I ask.
If so many folks feel this way, then why aren't more people finding ways to get unstuck. The simple answer is that we are not taught how to solve this problem. There's isn't a course that I'm aware of called Getting Unstuck 101.
So we wind up doing the same things, that don't work, over and over again and expect different results. It's similar to what we do when we get our car stuck in the sand, mud or snow: if we don't get out on the first try, we spin our wheels, digging the hole deeper and deeper and we get "stucker and stucker."
Another good illustration of staying stuck can be found in a story called "What to Do When Your Horse Dies."
If the horse you've been riding has died, then get off the horse!
But instead of getting off, we try:
?buying a stronger whip
?switching riders
?trying a new bit or bridle
?moving the horse to a new location
?saying "this is the way we've always ridden this horse"
?form a commission to study the horse
?visit other places where they ride dead horses more efficiently
?blame the horse's parents
?complain about the state of horses these days."
Why in the world would we try any of the above solutions with a dead horse? Yet we do it all the time. In our stubbornness, we keep trying to solve a problem with the exact same kind of thinking that created the problem in the first place.
How to Get Un-Stuck
Now for the good stuff - the tools and solutions. Here are just a few suggestions:
Albert Einstein said it much better than I ever could: "You can't solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created the problem."
We all can change our thinking by asking better questions.
Change the lame sounding-dead roach-victim whining "why does this always happen to me-it's not fair-what did I do to deserve this" garbage question to "in how many ways can I creatively get unstuck while benefiting myself and others and enjoy the process?"
Use unusual, creative, silly, never-tried-it-that-way-before solutions. Remember that "every unattempted solution fails."
Ask for help. I know this idea sounds so un-American-I can do it myself-I can handle it-I don't need any one-proud and independent blather, but it works, just about every time. Just make sure you ask the right people: instead of asking those that are just as stuck as you, ask those who have been where you are and found their way to the other side.
A word of caution, however. While there is much to gain by getting un-stuck, there are a few things you must be prepared to give up as well. Things like:
?not being responsible/accountable for where you are
?no one expecting anything from you
?the helpless victim role
?the security and safety of the familiar
But if you are ready to give these things up, then let's get going, it's time to get unstuck and go live. It's like the old saying, "a ship is safe in the harbor, but that's not for what ships are made."
Happy sailing, and keep the change!
Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.
I am sitting here at a public access wireless location... Read More
We often find ourselves in a situation in which we... Read More
Have you hit the 'brick wall' yet?No? Well it won't... Read More
Allow me to start this with a quote:To think too... Read More
Do you want to know how the super successful overcome... Read More
In our information age, having the right knowledge at the... Read More
There's a party going on in my backyard. Just beyond... Read More
Have you ever felt stuck?You know the feeling - you're... Read More
There is hardly anything more personal that what motivates each... Read More
Hello again to you my loyal readers. My very first... Read More
Destiny. What a powerful word. And the great thing about... Read More
Your motivation is one of the core resources you have... Read More
This whole idea of change is founded on a single... Read More
The physical journey mirrors very accurately the spiritual journey of... Read More
January is synonymous with resolutions and getting organized is high... Read More
The answer is yes, of course, right? People motivate other... Read More
I edited and re-edited my article. I had to make... Read More
Thinking is good, yes it is. I strongly encourage thinking.... Read More
When was the last time you truly relaxed? Do you... Read More
Can you believe it, summer is almost over. Did you... Read More
I recently saw a t-shirt with the following saying: "Procrastinate... Read More
Whether you've been in business for yourself for a day... Read More
How often have we heard ourselves complaining about how unlucky... Read More
I had the most interesting discussion today with a friend... Read More
To the world you might be one person, but to... Read More
The Unknown - it is scary territory for many, something... Read More
When growing up as a child, the concept of learning... Read More
One of the things I've noticed about successful people is... Read More
I've always heard that "public speaking" is the number one... Read More
Responsibility means being accountable for what we think, say, and... Read More
How quickly we forget. We are only a few weeks... Read More
I have been giving some thought lately to optimism and... Read More
As the story goes, there was once a farmer and... Read More
It never fails. Another new year approaches. You watch that... Read More
I think each one of us has had the experience... Read More
Imagine! 40 is old. The California State Supreme Court has... Read More
What is the dictionary definition of a procrastinator? It is... Read More
When we talk about a Simple Life, we are not... Read More
'Action Rules!' in the Getting Goals Game. It is the... Read More
To the world you might be one person, but to... Read More
This is a key to lasting motivation and beating procrastination.If... Read More
If you really want to be at your absolute peak... Read More
There were four generations sitting at the kitchen table, smacking... Read More
It is so important to know how to motivate ourselves... Read More
Why do you do what you do? What is your... Read More
Every thought of a human being is transformed as picture... Read More
1.2.3.4.5.Well, to be frank, there are no great reasons to... Read More
When the Universe is aligned, all things are possible. Kismet,... Read More
I had a friend ask me a question not to... Read More
Achieving the really big goals and dreams always involves breaking... Read More
While I was trying to find a subject to write... Read More
"Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration... Read More
It's no secret that life is a tricky animal to... Read More
'We cannot become what we need to be remaining what... Read More
Do you have the motivation to succeed in the mortgage... Read More
When growing up as a child, the concept of learning... Read More
Don't you just hate it when people make excuses for... Read More
I am not a golfer, unless you count an occasional... Read More
It is not just new age hype, studies in the... Read More
Writing your own obituary sounds and feels a little strange,... Read More
I received an email today that said I could: "Make... Read More
"Never let fear, procrastination or the longing for approval from... Read More
A few years back, the ex-recording artist, turned Pastor, turned... Read More
What do you do when you make a big mistake?... Read More
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that... Read More
Q. I have several projects going at once -- but... Read More
Motivation |