Feeling stuck? Try Pamela Allardice’s seven-step plan to bust that rut and push forward in your life.
1 Make time First, create an opportunity for inward focus. Getting unstuck isn’t just about moving on: before you can do that, you need to look within and establish who you are and what you want. Schedule an appointment with yourself for some solid ‘thinking time’ – an uninterrupted afternoon is ideal.
2 Get grounded A grounding practice is something you do that helps you re-establish a sense of connection with your feelings and your body, such as having a massage or taking a walk. A physical reality check like this creates perspective and confidence in your thinking.
3 Tune in Sitting quietly with your eyes closed, reflect on your life right now. What is working for you and what is not? What do you want to change? Losing weight, finding a partner and buying a house are some examples. What does your inner voice say? Maybe it’s time to start that real estate course you’ve always wanted to do or find the courage to walk away from a toxic friendship.
4 Cut and paste A collage is a tool used by psychotherapists to help people identify and accomplish their goals. It works on the principle that your subconscious mind understands symbols better than words. Flip through a pile of magazines and clip images that resonate with you. Don’t analyse your choices too much – you might be drawn to a picture of a plane, a puppy or a key. Glue them on a piece of cardboard.
5 State your purpose Most companies have a mission statement – usually it’s something along the lines of committing to make a quality product and provide a high level of service. By the same token, when you have a sense of purpose, it follows that you’ll see things more clearly and be better able to achieve your goals. The trick to making a mission statement is to keep rewriting it until you have clear, concise sentences. Add your statement to the collage, along with any affirmations that inspire you, e.g. “You can do it!” or “Action creates success”. Hang your collage over your desk or on the fridge, somewhere you will see it often.
6 Ask for help We humans are notoriously reluctant to make changes, even if a habit or behaviour is causing us actual physical or emotional damage. List at least four friends or family members whose opinions you value and ask them if they could send you an encouraging e-mail or text message every week to keep you focused on your goals. Having this ongoing support can make a huge difference.
7 Establish a time-frame Without a deadline, the motivation to do any task is removed. Author Stephen King writes 1,500 words every day except on his birthday, Christmas and the 4th of July. If you truly want to achieve your goals, you need to keep going and not give up.
YOUR SAY: Do you find it difficult making changes in your life? How do you motivate yourself? Tell us below…
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