Being stuck can be one of the worst feelings. It’s frustrating and it can leave you feeling hopeless. However, it can almost always get turned around. If you’ve been feeling stuck in your life recently, one of these twelve things might be to blame. After all, knowing the source of the problem is the first step to correcting it.
1. You feel like you need to be perfect.
No one is perfect, and that’s a simple fact. While it’s commendable to give something your all, it’s another thing entirely to expect perfection from yourself. Whether it’s at work, in your love life or in another situation entirely, it’s important to keep yourself from getting overwhelmed by unattainable perfection.
2. You think your dreams are unreachable.
Feeling stuck in a job you don’t like, or worse, being unemployed, can make you feel like your dreams are completely out of your reach. It’s important to remember that your dreams are attainable no matter your circumstances. It might require a lot of work on your part, but reaching your goal is not something that should make you feel stuck in any way — rather, it should make you feel excited at the prospect of finally reaching it.
3. You feel obligated to spend time with certain people.
If someone in your life is unhealthy for you, then they should not be a part of your life any longer. It’s as simple as that. If that person is a family member, or someone that you can’t easily remove from your life, try to limit the amount of time you spend with that person. It’s only going to make you feel worse to keep someone in your life who makes you feel badly about yourself.
4. You think you stick out.
The feeling of not fitting in is something that everyone has experienced. It’s just a matter of finding people who understand you and make you feel good about yourself. There’s no such thing as being cool or popular if you just let yourself believe that. Being yourself is the best possible thing you can do.
5. You play too many parts.
It can be very frustrating to have to be too many people at once: spouse, parent, boss, employee — the list goes on and on. It’s important to balance these roles by remembering that you’re still you. While it can be overwhelming, it can be incredibly helpful to just take a deep breath and go in knowing that whatever role you’re fulfilling, you’re still you.
6. You have too many five-year plans.
Plans for the future need to reflect real goals and aspirations. If you make too many five-year plans and hold yourself to unrealistic expectations, it can take a toll on your mental health. Keep yourself in check and don’t write anything down that you don’t really want to set as a goal. Waffling can make you feel very stuck.
7. You have to make too many people happy.
It’s one thing to try to make others happy because you enjoy it and find it rewarding, but it’s another thing entirely to find it a chore. If you’re always putting others’ happiness before your own, try to take some time for yourself. Even twenty minutes of time alone can do wonders.
8. You have too much routine in your life.
Nothing makes you feel more stuck than simply doing the same things over and over again. Routine can be great at keeping you on track, but too much of it can become monotonous and boring. Shake things up a bit.
9. You don’t cut yourself any slack.
It’s important to remember that you’re only human, and that sometimes it’s okay to give yourself a break. Holding yourself too accountable to things can be too much to handle.
10. You feel like you have to keep up appearances.
Lying to others about your feelings is only going to make things worse. It’s okay to feel vulnerable. Don’t try to put on a mask and hope things will work themselves out.
11. You don’t let others help you.
Letting other people in and sharing your feelings and fears with them can be very helpful. Sometimes a listener is all you need, while other times it’s a dose of good advice.
12. You forget that you’re only human.
There’s only so much you can deal with at any given time. Let yourself relax and be happy. Sometimes feeling stuck in your life can be remedied by a deep breath. Just slow down and be optimistic about the future.
Featured photo credit: net_efekt via photopin.com
