Feeling Stuck in Business? Here’s How to Get Unstuck

If you’re feeling stuck in your business, it’s time for self-inquiry.

Have you ever experienced a time where you were feeling stuck, frustrated and dissatisfied with the current state of your business? When you knew something needed to change, but you’re just weren’t sure what?  

We all go through phases where we feel stuck. Sometimes it’s because we’re caught up in analysis paralysis, trying to figure out the “right” answer. Other times, it’s because we honestly don’t know what to do to move ourselves forward. In some cases, we may know what to do, but we’re too debilitated by fear to take any action.

This becomes even more frustrating, because by doing nothing, nothing changes.

Feeling stuck in your business? Ask yourself these questions

When you’re feeling stuck in your business (or in any area of life really), self inquiry can be a powerful tool. Follow these questions to  get unstuck.

1. What does “feeling stuck” feel like to you?

Feeling stuck is just that: a feeling. And if you’ve been there, you know that it’s not a pleasant or desirable feeling!

Because it’s a feeling, one of the first steps you might invite yourself to do is to allow yourself to tap into the feeling. Imagine yourself as the observer of the “stuckness” instead of being in the stuckness yourself. 

• What does the sensation of “being stuck” feel like?
• Where in your body do you experience the feeling?
• What color and texture is it?

Getting clear on what feeling stuck actually feels like to you can help you feel the sensation and release it.

2. What specific issue or thing is causing the feeling of stuckness?

Think about the specific aspect where you’re feeling stuck. If you had to narrow it down, where do you feel the most frustrated? What do you wish could be changed?

Identify what is happening in your business that is causing or resulting in this feeling of stuckness.

• Is it a specific decision you are trying to make?
• Are you trying to solve a specific problem?
• Have you had a negative experience you want to remedy?
• Are things just not going your way and you aren’t sure what to do?

3. What various parts are playing a role in your feeling stuck?

Often when you are feeling stuck, it’s because you’re experiencing an inner conflict somewhere.

• It could be a conflict of values, such as the values of freedom and security being in opposition when you’re making a decision.
• It could be a conflict of priorities. If you value your job and your family, it makes sense that these may conflict from time to time, causing the feeling of being stuck.
• It could be a matter of different parts at play. Parts work, a concept that originated from Internal Family Systems (IFS),  views the mind as composed of distinct “parts,” each with its own emotions, roles, and perspectives, shaped by life experiences or trauma. You may have opposing parts at play that contribute to the feeling of being stuck.

Do your best to identify the various pieces or aspects that may be in potential conflict with one another.

Ask yourself what it is that you truly want most. Get really specific. If there were no bounds or limits, what exactly would you want your life to look like in this area? 

4. What might you be believing to be true?

There will likely be some thoughts and beliefs at play related to the feeling of being stuck. So often we get stuck in our own beliefs and assumptions and don’t step outside to question them.

• What are you believing to be true that you don’t know for sure is true? For example, are you believing that there is ONE right decision and every other decision may lead to a terrible irrecoverable outcome?
• What assumptions may you be making about this specific scenario? For example, do you know for sure that clients won’t pay your rates just because you raised them? Do you have any proof of that?
• What  are other possible thoughts or beliefs that could be true? Be open to other possibilities or outcomes. Expand your mind to be willing to see other ways. So often when we feel stuck, we are only seeing one or two options as possibilities, when in fact there are usually myriad potential possibilities.
  

Do your best to challenge your current beliefs and thoughts about the situation, allowing yourself to explore new avenues or ways of thinking.

5. What outcome do you want to get to?

It’s hard to make your way through feeling stuck when you aren’t actually sure what you’re hoping to get to. Quite often, what we’re hoping for is a feeling. It could be a feeling of relief, of comfort, of peace. It could be a feeling of being worthy or abudant or cared for.

Really ask yourself what outcome you desire as far as feeling, and secondly, get curious about why that feeling is so important to you. You can do this by continuing to ask the question “Why” or “Why is this important?”

For example:

“I want to offer the right price so this client will sign up with me.”

Why is this important?

“So that I can work with this client and make money”

Why is this important?

“So that I can make enough money to support my business.”

At the end, you get down to the real “why” behind the conflict. And then you can see you’ve probably been putting a lot of weight on this one thing, when it’s part of a much bigger picture.

At this point the person in the example may ask themselves, “What are other ways I can make enough money to support myself?” “How can I look beyond this one client?” and “How can I take the weight off this one decision?”

6. What do you need to support yourself in order to start getting unstuck?

As the CEO of your business (which you are when you work for yourself as a solopreneur), you are in charge of many things. One of the most important thing you’ll ever be in charge of is supporting yourself.

That’s because you must support yourself in order to support others. This is true in general in life, but especially when you’re in a profession like coaching or healing. You want to be pouring from a full cup.

• What kind of support do you need?
• How can you best support yourself right now?
• What tools or resources do you have that can help support you?
• Who could you ask for support with this issue?

7. What is one baby step that you can take today to alleviate feeling stuck in your business?

Last, but not least, you want to identify one small baby step you can take next (ideally today) to move forward. The step could be to ask for help, to do something to support yourself, to write a a draft of an email, or something else.

What is one thing you can do today (however small) to help move yourself in the direction you desire?

Identifying one small action you can take – and then taking that action – is movement. It’s not only forward movement, but it’s committing to yourself that you can figure this out and get unstuck.

Feeling stuck in business happens to everyone

If you’re currently feeling stuck in your business, know that you’re not alone and everyone goes through this. Also know that you can get unstuck.

If you go through the above questions and still feel stuck or unclear, take your time and be patient with yourself. But remember, that clarity often comes from action, not thought. Meaning, sometimes we need to take a small action in a direction, any direction, to see if it feels right and what results it garners.

So choose an action that moves you forward, whether that action is to support yourself, ask for help, make a decision, or anything else.  Action builds momentum, brings clarity, and provides the impetus necessary to move you forward in a new direction.