STUCK IN A RUT
A few months back I made an article titled Breaking free from a rut and I have had so many people talk about how they have been stuck in a rut and I often say it’s not enough just to say I am in a rut. You have to be specific, which area of your life seems to be stuck in a rut, is it your spirituality, your career, your relational, your financial, your social life or your physical being. Which of the six areas of your life seems to be stuck in a rut? It’s important to know and of course some might say they seem to be in all the six, it’s possible. It is also very easy to remain comfortable in the status quo than to face a change, even if it’s potentially for a greater outcome. Dr John DeMartini once wrote that we are here to master all the areas of our lives and do well in all of them. So if you are struggling to get over bereavement, or recover from a long illness or maybe you’re doing your best to salvage a broken relationship, stuck in a religious denomination without any growth, or work that is no longer serving your growth, there is need to break free. Your reason may not be specifically amongst the ones I listed above but whatever the reason it may be, it’s possibly time to break free. But first ask yourself WHAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE IS STUCK IN A RUT.
Without a clear picture on exactly what needs to be changed, then change is impossible. You need to laser on to the area that needs to break fourth and ask yourself:
Where do I want to be in this area?
Where am I currently? What’s the difference between where I am and where I want to be?
What seems to be holding you back in this area?
If you are stuck in more than one scenario, go through all the areas and be sure to be intentional about it. Normally we say, a rut is a by- product of not giving yourself permission to go after what you truly love in your life. Once it’s clear as to which area, laser on the area that needs change. Introspect; find out what energizes you rather than drains you in all those areas and also find out on your inner conversation.
The first thing thereafter is to change your mind set. Often people will ask me how I moved from being dyslexic to graduating top of my class in tertiary and I often say it’s all in the change of mindset. When you shift the mindset your life will also follow. I used to believe that I can’t and that I’m not smart enough and that resulted in me failing before I even began and when I had to be intentional about my mindset I will put little posters around my room that say, I am smart enough, intelligent enough and beautiful enough; I would go through those affirmations every now and then to program my subconscious mind. Until you change your mindset everything else will stay the same. The progress may not be an overnight one but with bits and pieces of positivity and affirmation, you will see change.
The next thing is to study more, learn more. Basically, read books and acquire new knowledge. When you know you do more. Lately, there are books on just everything if you feel that your level of intimacy is what keeps you in a rut; go on YouTube, buy books and learn. Your life only takes the direction of the knowledge you carry. Sometimes when we acquire knowledge we intentionally cause a shift in our lives.
Lastly set SMART goals of how you intend to free yourself from the rut. It’s a good thing to have goals but it’s a totally different thing to have smart goals. SMART goals are those Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic and Time- bound goals. You can apply this very same theory on every area of your life. Set goals that are specific, that are attainable, very realistic and make sure they are measurable and time bound. Don’t expect a quick- fix. Break down what you would love to achieve into bite- sized, achievable goals and make sure they are harmonizing with your highest values. Then learn to celebrate those needle point successes, they might not be the big break you are looking for but they are the ones that eventually kick open the big opportunity. Follow up on each of your goals to the latter. Then when all this is done and done right you will eventually be free from the rut.
In case you find it difficult to do it on your own, at Elegant Living, we also offer coaching on how to break free from any form of a rut and that too, may be very helpful. As we are almost at the end of yet another year this may be radical steps one may want to take to prepare for the coming year.
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