Feeling stuck in your career? Here’s where to start
One of the privileges of being a coach is that I am in constant conversations with amazing people who are willing to open up their hearts and minds with me. I am forever grateful for being allowed in their world to help. And one of the most common things they tell me is “I am feeling stuck and I don’t know what to do”.
I recognise that feeling from my previous careers. I also know there are ways to move on from it.
Feeling stuck can feel like a never ending loop of frustrating thoughts. You may feel that you really want to do something about the current situation but the more you think about it, the less clear it all seems, the more questions you have. What should you do instead of your current job? What if it doesn’t work out? What if you leave and the next job is the same? Should you stay put in case that promotion you were promised materialises? Or should you leave and maybe get a promotion as well as a pay rise? But what guarantee do you have that the next company will be different?
While this goes on in your head, you’re probably not taking any action. Months go by and your frustration increases. Yet you feel strangely justified not to take action: after all, you are stuck.
What does feeling stuck mean?
It doesn’t have to be like that. The first thing you need is to understand what feeling stuck means to you.
Firstly, what are you thinking? Are you worried you might not get a job you like? That you may find it hard to move on after being in a company for a long time? That you’ll have to get a job quickly to keep up with your finances? That you might not like the next job either?
Secondly, what emotions are you feeling when you start thinking about changing jobs or careers?
Write everything down. If anything, you’ll realise you are not necessarily stuck but perhaps overwhelmed by too many things that appear unknown and the fear that comes with that.
Thirdly, how do you relate to feeling stuck? Do you criticise yourself? Tell yourself you are lazy? Do you tell yourself you should be acting and thinking differently? If you relate to it negatively, the likelihood is you will continue the vicious cycle simply because telling yourself you should be different and not knowing how to do that will keep you stuck.
Make a decision and commit
Once you are starting to get a bit of clarity about your emotions and thoughts, the one thing that is guaranteed to help you take the next step is deciding to do something about it. Declare it — out loud to yourself, quietly to the universe, say it to your friends. Simply declare that you will take action. That you won’t just keep thinking about it; you won’t just stay in planning mode. But that you will actually do something.
If you can figure out the next steps for yourself, start taking action. If you can’t, get a coach. But know that the situation will not change unless you decide and commit to do something.
