Learn: How I got Unstuck

To best appreciate this post, read this first.

The hot July sun tried to pierce through the trees, as we made our way down the trail, only the tree cover was thick enough to keep us cool. My sister and brother-in-law were visiting us from Massachusetts, and we were showing them one of our favorite places, Ricketts Glen State Park.

At this point, we had hiked the trails that pass by the majority of the waterfalls in the park, but we wanted to make a stop at Adams Falls as well. We walked down the path to the bottom, where we could see the full height of the waterfall. Up above, water flowed over a massive rock edge, and through a well worn crevice, down to the deep pool below. We walked out onto a large rock for the best view, and that is when it hit me.

I made it.

Almost two years before, I stood at the top of that waterfall, contemplating a change. Wading through the cold water, I wrestled with feeling stuck yet knowing I needed to move forward. In that very place, I asked God to help me get out of a position I both never wanted to be in yet never wanted to leave. I told Him, I was stuck and I needed help.

But now, two years later, I was on the other side. I made it. I did one of the hardest things I ever had to do—and I lived. More than that, I can tell you, I was experiencing new life on the other side. As I watched gallons and gallons of water pour down the side of that cliff, a feeling I can only describe as a combination of awe and deep gratitude began to flow through me.

I made it.

I was no longer stuck.

I was free.

Now, like anyone who once was stuck, and now is free, I can’t help but want to help others find freedom in their lives too. It’s a desire that can get you into trouble, as not everyone wants to be free. Yet it is also a story I need to keep telling, in case I come across someone in need of hope. People need to hear:

I made it.

So they know they can too.

For this reason, today I want to share with you three things that helped me get unstuck. I share these things knowing that no two stories are the same. My stuck, may not even compare to your stuck. And what worked for me, may not work for you. But, I have a strong feeling, that these three things, will at least help.

God

I don’t know what your faith background is. Maybe faith isn’t even a thing for you. But sometimes, the best places for us to discover our faith is in dark, cramped spaces. Feeling stuck can have a way of clarifying things for us. It has for me. It has been in the hardest times that I have experienced God move the most profoundly in my life. And as I shared in Monday’s post, when I was stuck He met me in some surprising ways. But He also met me in the hidden moments, no one else saw, giving me strength to take steps I didn’t think I could take. If you’re feeling stuck, it doesn’t hurt to pray. In fact, I can’t imagine this journey without prayer.

Trusted Mentors Or Counselor

At different parts of my journey, both talking to mentors and a counselor, have been tremendously helpful. When we feel stuck, we feel all the feelings. Depending on our situation, we can be angry, afraid, disappointed—or we may even need to grieve a dream or relationship that is ending. For this reason, we need someone to help us walk through our emotions, while also reminding us of the truth. Then we need someone to help us talk through our options and figure out the best way to move forward—to plot the steps we need to take to get unstuck. Find a counselor or a someone who is further along in their journey who you trust, and set up a time to meet (if meeting with a mentor, offer to buy them coffee—show them you value their time and wisdom).

Beginning a Health Journey

This one can be a struggle all on its own—let alone in times we feel stuck. But taking care of our bodies can go a long way in helping us make the hard changes elsewhere. When I take the time to exercise and eat well, I am giving my body what it needs to manage stress and think more clearly—both things that help me make better decisions, and move towards freedom.