Feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’re broken
Wanna know one of the worst, most sneaky parts of feeling stuck?
We assume it’s our fault.
I’ve seen it countless times with my coaching clients. Showing up to our first session feeling embarrassed and even ashamed that they haven’t figured out what to do about their ‘job problem.’
Worried about what it says about them that they haven’t solved this on their own:
“I’m dumb.”
“I’m lazy.”
“I’m broken.”
I know it because I used to feel that way, too.
I used to think being stuck meant I was stupid.
So let’s just clear this up right now:
You are not stupid, and you’re definitely not broken.
You just don’t have the right steps.
These steps are not rocket science, but they also aren’t obvious.
That’s why I teach them to all of my coaching clients to help them get unstuck and design their next, most authentic chapter.
Clients like Julia – a new mom of twins who felt stuck in an unfulfilling role, but didn’t know how to get out of it:
“I was stuck... I wanted a change but didn’t know what it was or how to articulate it. Working with Ashley gave me the confidence, framework, and accountability to move forward.
Clients like Steph – a senior sales exec who felt too overwhelmed by business pressures and a demanding CEO to look for a new role:
“Ashley really focused on redirecting my attention back to me and what makes me thrive versus being stuck on what definitely did not.”
And clients like Liza – a mom of two recovering from burnout after getting laid off:
“Ashley didn’t help me get a job; she guided me to a place where I could see a new world of possibility.”
Each of these clients, and so many more, have gotten themselves unstuck by using these four steps:
Discovering who they are today
Defining what matters to them at this stage of their lives
Imaging a more authentic and aligned future
Taking consistent, iteration action to achieve it.
And now you can, too!
Try This Out
Today, my invitation for you is to review the steps above – Discover, Define, Imagine and Iterate – and consider:
Which one haven’t I been paying attention to or prioritizing?
Maybe you’re all about taking action (Iterate), but you realize that you haven’t stopped to clarify your success criteria (Define).
Maybe you’ve spent a long time soul searching and learning about yourself (Discover), but you haven’t turned your focus toward dreaming about what’s possible for your future (Imagine).
Which of the four steps is asking you for some fresh attention (or intention)? Choose one of them and explore the following questions:
What does this word (Discover, Define, Imagine or Iterate) mean to me? How do I define it?
What does it feel like to be in the mindset of this word? How do I know I am in that state?
What are the benefits of pausing to do more of this (Discover, Define, Imagine or Iterate)?
What gets in my way?
What to Do Next
If you’re looking to go deeper, I’ve got some suggestions for you:
Practice these four steps using my guided journal collection, “100 Days of Designing My Life.”
Work with me 1:1 in my 4-week Career Strategy Intensive to map these four steps onto your unique goals and future plans.
Remember: you’re not stuck because there’s something wrong with you. You just need the steps!
Onward,
