Did you know that Highly Sensitive People tend to feel stuck more frequently than the average person?
It makes sense, if you think about it. We’re built for evolution.
Life is measured for deep processors through meaning & purpose.
At the onset of Spring I felt stuck.
At the time, in order to bring in some momentum, I decided to evaluate my stuckness by taking a deep dive into my astrology. What felt most resonant was my Mars in Sagittarius, in my Sixth house, shared with freaky Neptune in Scorpio. That reminded me, in a nutshell, that my Service to the world, which happens to be my Purpose, needs to feel like a spiritual adventure, without repression or too many externally dictated rules.
I had become disconnected from that.
My astrology was reminding me that I needed to boldly face my fears. I needed to feel exhilarated.
My ultimate takeaway was distilled into one word: Adventure.
For me personally, getting unstuck requires a little adventure. (Read more about HSP High Sensation Seekers here.)
Enter stuckness. The black and white thinking that being stuck is made of, was getting the better of me. My inner dialogue was: Adventure requires running off into the horizon and blasting my world apart (hello Stark Raving Zen) or Adventure does not take place at all (hello stuckness).
My rational mind knows that black and white thinking, no matter what form it’s taking, is never the path out of stuckness. In fact, B & W thinking is often what gets us there in the first place.
I needed to think bigger.
I knew I needed to pause to expand my vision, something Highly Sensitive People are built for. And that is where the fun began, because when I can do that then finding my way out of the stuckness becomes the adventure.
Getting unstuck through creative problem solving.
This is where I rolled up my sleeves and approached it like a detective sleuthing my way around my own crime scene.
I had to get a little innovative and creative.
It started with some simple self-directed getting unstuck questions:
1.) Where are the everyday adventures for me? (Usually bootcamp style hiking in my local rough terrain, or something nature related, does the trick.)
2.) What is the feeling that a sense of adventure brings me? What is the physical energy of it? How do I see myself when I’m feeling adventurous?
3.) What bigger picture vision does experiencing new, exciting things bring to me? Can I write about it? Inspire others through it? Maybe I can see that it simply allows me to live my life from a feeling of wholeness.
4.) Can I brainstorm some new adventure goals for myself over the next few months? (Yes! The process of doing a little research and making a Summer adventure list felt so energizing to me.)
And suddenly, by working through those few questions, I found a new energy had infused me.
Maybe your life is not calling for more adventure. Maybe your forward momentum is needing something very different from mine. If that’s the case…
- Distill what you feel you’d like more of into one word or concept.
- Then replace “adventure” from the questions above with whatever that might be for you. Maybe it’s More Fun? Or Spiritual Connection. Or Deeper Conversation. Or Greater Authenticity.
Stuck energy can be an ally.
Getting unstuck requires us to think in new ways, and try something entirely different. We can’t perpetually stare at the same four walls, process the same old routines, and accept the same ways of thinking, and hope that our life will continue to evolve and grow.
Sometimes we’ve got to shock ourselves out of the stagnancy of habituation.
The unbearable feeling of stuckness has a purpose–to light a fire within us, even if we think we’ve forgotten how to kindle those flames.
Questions? Ask me anything. Just leave a comment on this post.
Much Love,
Kristy
P.S. Want another idea? Do you know about my Getting Unstuck Formula?
The Getting Unstuck Formula is my structured process for stepping out of the stuck. I use this method with my clients, and I use it to regulate my own nervous system when I find myself tangled in life’s knots.
When regularly practiced this self-reg formula creates a new nervous system default, helping you stay in your responsive mind rather than your reactive mind when old survival patterns pop up (like perfectionism, chronic worry, or rumination).
Jump over here for a free copy of the Getting Unstuck Formula! It’s going to get your energy moving, it’s just for you, and you’ll also be joining my subscriber list to receive one or two emails a month written for Highly Sensitive People with big feelings and bigger dreams.
Desiree says
Hey old friend. I really have been in a pattern of getting stuck for some time now and just reading your post reminded me of how invaluable you are to this world. I think you are one of the worlds most brilliant, beautiful minds and pray you never stop shining your light on us all.
Much love and respect friend,
Desiree
Kristy Sweetland says
ThanK you so much, my beautiful friend. I’ll always be here, and I’m sending you so much love and a hug. Be well, dear one.