6 Things to Remember When You’re Feeling Stuck

“I don’t know what to do.” “I’m in a rut.” “I feel stuck.” These are words Marc and I hear
frequently from coaching clients and blog subscribers alike. We all struggle with this kind of
mindset sometimes, and if you are right now, it’s time to push through. There’s plenty you can do.

The truth is, you have the power to move forward no matter what obstacles block your path. You
have the power to live up to your highest vision of how your life can be. You have the power to
follow through and make significant progress on your biggest goals. You have all this power
because you have the CHOICE. In each moment you can choose what you think, what you do, and
who you want to be.

If you're being pulled in every direction by forces beyond your control, take time to realign yourself
with what you value most in life.

You don’t have to continue doing things the way you’ve always done them. You don’t have to be
held a prisoner by your old, familiar habits and assumptions.

Today is a new day, filled with new possibilities, so remember...

1. Feeling stuck is a FEELING, not a fact. – When we feel stuck, typically our first instinct is to
look outside of ourselves for someone or something to blame. In reality, we ought to be looking at
how we’re feeling, what we’re thinking, and how we plan to respond. Your life is your
responsibility. While you can’t always change what’s outside of you, you can certainly change
your perception of it. And the funny thing is, when you change the way you look at things, the
things themselves change. ( from the “Happiness” chapter of our book)

2. Yesterday’s bad news is not worth reliving. – You can’t have a better today if you’re still
thinking and worrying about yesterday. Whatever could have been or should have been, doesn’t
matter. Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you have one foot on the brakes
when you’re thinking about the past. In order to be free, you must learn how to let go of whatever
old news is keeping you stuck. Release your regrets. Discard yesterday’s frustrations. Refuse to
entertain old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto these things is holding you back from a new
beginning. What is it you want to let go of today? Do it!

3. Feeling stuck is a sign that it’s time to make a change. – It could be a change of heart, a change
in your perspective, or a change in your habits. But the point in any case is that the way you are
doing things is no longer working. Imagine yourself as a river, flowing into a great ocean.
Oftentimes, a river grows narrower and appears on the surface to lack movement just before it
breaks through to the larger body of water. The same thing happens to us as we prepare for a
breakthrough in life. Our flow must contract before it can expand. And the contraction is equally
important to the expansion.

4. What you need to do won’t be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. – If you’ve been asking the
same questions for a long time, yet you’re still stuck, it’s probably not that you haven’t been given
the answers, but that you don’t like the answers you were given. Remember, it takes a great deal of
courage to admit that something needs to change, and a lot more courage still, to accept the
responsibility for making the change happen. Growth and change may be painful sometimes, but
nothing in life is as painful as staying stuck where you don't belong. ( from the “Goals and
Success” chapter of our book)
5. An excuse is standing somewhere between you and the next step you need to take. – If you really
want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse. This may be tough to
accept, but it’s the truth. Stop making excuses for why you can't get it done and start focusing on
all the reasons why you must make it happen. The only person who can truly hold you back is you.
So no more excuses – it's time to change. It's time to choose what's best for YOU. Oftentimes
when we feel stuck, we are waiting for something magical to happen. We wonder when the winds
will change in our favor. We do this instead of embracing the present and admitting the change we
need to make. What is keeping you from stepping forward? If not fear of failure, then what?
Insecurity? Laziness? What is your excuse? We all have one. And when we focus on our excuses
more than our steps forward, we walk in a circle and fall into the familiar pit we call “Stuck.”

6. Other people’s opinions can only stop you if you let them. – Care too much about what other
people think and you will always be their prisoner. Your freedom lies not in the physical space
around you, but in your mind. As long as you cling to other people’s definitions of your truth, your
beauty, and your happiness, you will always be chained. Thoughts that begin with, “I have to…” or
“I really should…” reveal where we feel most obligated to direct our energy. Redefine things.
Write your own definitions. Finish your own sentences. Find your own way. And most
importantly, listen to your intuition. It already knows what you truly need. ( from the “Self-Love”
chapter of our book)

And of course, if you're struggling with any of these points, know that you are not alone. We are all
in this together. Many of us are right there with you, working hard to feel better, think more
clearly, and keep our lives on track. This is precisely why Marc and I wrote our book, “1,000 Little
Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently.” The book is filled with short, concise tips on
how to do just that. And believe it or not, Marc and I are always re-visiting and re-reading our own
material, just to center our minds on these positive principles. If you’re interested in following
along with us and making positive changes in your life this summer, or if you simply want to
read (or listen) our book at your leisure, I’m going to extend an unbeatable bonus offer to you for
the next 24 hours (offer ends this Thursday morning):

For over 70% off we’re bundling 7 products, including our Paperback book, all for just $37:
1. 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently Paperback (418 page paperback book –
regularly priced at $27 by itself)
2. 1,000 Little Things Audio Book (11 hour audio book – regularly priced at $27 by itself)
3. 1,000 Little Things eBook (395 page eBook – regularly priced at $27 by itself)
4. 99 Tiny Stories to Make You Think, Smile, and Cry (104 page eBook – regularly priced at $10 by itself)
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6. 365 Thought Provoking Questions to Ask Yourself This Year (370 page eBook/workbook – regularly
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7. 30 Challenges for 30 Days of Growth (37 page eBook/workbook – regularly priced at $10 by itself)

Check out this 1-day, Summer 2014 special HERE.

(Note that this special bonus package is only being offered to email subscribers (YOU) and not being offered
publicly on the book’s main website.)
Also, if you would like to get on the phone (or Skype) with us and discuss your specific situation, we
currently have one open one-on-one coaching slot available. Get coaching here.
Questions or comments? Please don’t hesitate to email us or leave a comment on our blog.
And finally, please share this email with anyone else who could benefit from it.
Sincerely hoping your first half of 2014 has been inspired,
Angel Chernoff
Marc and Angel Hack Life
Practical Tips for Productive Living