Breaking Through Mental Quicksand: Techniques for Getting Unstuck

Turn stagnation into momentum.

Stuck. It’s a word that feels like it sounds. We’ve all been there, mentally in the mud, seemingly paralyzed and getting nowhere. It's as if our thoughts are held captive, refusing to budge despite our best intentions. This mental entanglement often stems from various sources – external pressures, self-doubt, or the overwhelming unknown. So how do you get unstuck? What’s the process of navigating the dense undergrowth of our own thoughts and emotions?

One powerful tip l learned through my yoga practice was that “to change energy, you must move energy.” It's quite an amazingly simple concept that has had a significant impact on how I manage stress, redirect my energy, and pull myself out of my own mud. Any type of physical movement like taking a walk, yoga, or cycling shifts focus away from the monkey mind into your body and grounds you in the present.

Motivational speaker, Mel Robbins provides terrific action steps on exactly how to get unstuck and out of your own way. In her podcast episode "Turn Anxiety Into Power: A 3-Step Process to Master Your Emotions From a Harvard Psychologist," she dives into strategies that can help you break free from the shackles of anxiety. You can find the episode here.

Just as soft skills are the secret ingredients that turn ordinary professionals into extraordinary leaders, the skill of getting unstuck is the magic spell that can turn stagnation into momentum. Whether you're dancing with your body or your thoughts, movement becomes the catalyst for your journey toward advancement. So, take that step, make that move, and watch the wheels of progress turn. After all, the best way to unstick yourself is to keep moving forward.