Feeling Stuck Isn’t a Sign of Failure—It’s a Sign You’re Ready for Change
Let’s get one thing straight: feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’re broken. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. And it definitely doesn’t mean you’re behind.
Feeling stuck is a signal. A blinking neon sign from your nervous system that says, “Hey! Something’s off. Let’s pay attention and do something.”
But most of us don’t hear that signal as an invitation to reflect. We hear it as shame. We spiral. We tell ourselves we should be further along, should be more motivated, should be more grateful.
Let’s throw all of that out. “Should” is the language of guilt, and we’re not here for that anymore.
Why We Get Stuck
There are a hundred reasons people feel stuck. Maybe your role stopped growing but you didn’t. Maybe the work still looks good on paper but doesn’t feel good anymore. Maybe you’ve outgrown your current environment but can’t see the next step clearly yet.
Getting stuck doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong. It usually means you’ve done a lot of things right—and now your system is asking for something different.
More challenge
More purpose
More clarity
More autonomy
More alignment
It’s your brain and body saying, “We’re ready for a shift.”
What People Do Instead of Listening
We double down. We hustle harder. We pretend everything’s fine. Or we distract ourselves with being as busy as humanly possible, doomscrolling, or obsessing over things we can’t control.
We try to logic our way out of stuckness like it’s a puzzle to solve, instead of what it really is: a moment to slow down and check in.
What You Can Do Instead
1. Stop fighting it. Get curious.
Instead of trying to force your way out of it, acknowledge it. Say it out loud. “I feel stuck.” That alone can take the pressure down by half.
Ask yourself: Where do I feel most drained right now? Where do I feel most alive? What do I miss? What am I craving? Don’t overthink it. Just listen.
2. Make a move. Any move.
Stuckness thrives on inertia. You don’t need a ten-step plan. You just need to shake up the pattern. Schedule a coffee with someone you admire. Try one new habit this week. Raise your hand for something different at work. Clarity comes through motion. It doesn’t have to (and probably won’t be) the perfect thing to do, and that’s OKAY. Just doing SOMETHING can help set the wheels in motion to whatever else it is you need to get truly unstuck.
3. Talk to someone.
Seriously. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Talk to a coach, a friend, a mentor, a therapist. Someone who can help you see what you can’t yet. That’s part of what the Threadsmith group does, so I can confidently tell you YOU AREN’T ALONE!!
You’re Not Broken. You’re Evolving.
Feeling stuck is a sign that your old ways of doing things aren’t working anymore—and that’s a GOOD thing. It means you’re ready to grow. You’re ready to trade autopilot for something more intentional.
That next chapter you’ve been quietly craving? It starts here.
At The Threadsmith Group, we help people untangle the stuck spots—whether they’re at work, in leadership, or just at that “I don’t know what’s next” stage. If you’re feeling stuck, you’re not alone. You’re just ready for something more.
Let’s figure it out together.