Stuck

Do you feel stuck in your ability to make change? Is it because it’s easier just to continue with what you know; do as you have done before?

Change involves risk and maybe that risk won’t bring with it the rewards you want. But then the alternative is doing the same thing day in day out, like Groundhog Day. Surely life isn’t supposed to be that mundane.

There have certainly been times where life has taken on the routine of sameness. The first one that springs to mind is straight after the birth of my kids. Those early months were basically feed, sleep, clean and repeat. In fact, I can barely remember the really early days, but I know as the kids have grown older routine returns but with slight changes. Primary school days are nag, feed, nag, drive (to school and activities) feed, bath and bed (me and the kids). Not exactly fun but still joyful in its own way as memories of time spent being the security blanket my kids needed.

Now however as they get more independent, I hate the routine of nagging and cleaning and instead want to spend my time with them talking, watching movies together and having fun. While I feel comfortable making those changes as home, I find it more of a struggle to make change in my work life.

I recently asked someone why I was finding it so hard and they suggested that I needed to spend more time looking within rather than outward. I was doing what people normally do, scouring job sites and LinkedIn, as opposed to spending time trying to really work out what resonates with me and makes me happy. As job ads dry up for the year on account of the Christmas holidays, I find myself feeling stuck again, not knowing how to move forward.

Maybe it’s time to try a different approach. Take notice of the things that catch my attention, that I’m drawn to read about and watch, and see what direction that takes me in. Sit back and enjoy the journey rather than racing to the end. Here’s hoping it leads to a happy ending!