012 How to know if you’re stuck

You’re next great beginning may take some time. A lot of time. How do you know if you’re stuck, or if all that time is incubating an even greater beginning?

In this episode Leary and Armin discuss the difference between an idea being stuck or just incubating. They turn, once again, to Mark Twain for this episode’s Inspire Me quote:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”

Any transition takes time and lots of energy. At times it may be hard to tell if your not getting anywhere or if your next great beginning needs more time to develop. Here are three symptoms that might suggest you’re stuck:

1. When your clarity of direction is less certain over time. You feel more confused and have lost your sense of vitality and optimism.


2. When you resist the next step. You want to move ahead on a new idea for yourself, but you consistently resist working on it.


3. When you over-function. You’re trying too hard to make something happen, resulting in anger and disappointment.

The Challenge Me for this episode is to evaluate your situation by asking these five questions. (These are part of a longer list of questions you’ll find in the Resources list below.)

1. What scares the living daylights out of me? What am I resisting most?


2. Is there any critical information or another person’s perspective about the situation that I’m lacking?


3. What’s the benefit of making the decision now?


4. In a year from now, if I imagined choosing each of the possible options in front of me, which option would I wish I had taken?


5. Will the option I am contemplating make me more like the person I want to become?

Our next episode will explore how to get unstuck or help others to do so. Please join us and tell a friend.

Resources mentioned or related to this podcast that may be helpful to you:

• Transition on pause: Are you stuck or incubating? Leary Gates, blog post on this topic


• 10 questions to ask when you’re stuck, Leary Gates, blog post on this topic