TEN WAYS TO GET UNSTUCK

It is so easy to fall into a routine. And by the way, routines are not intrinsically bad:  we all need certain routines to keep us in line. For example, I have a favorite morning routine that I do vary, but still enjoy:  put on soothing jazz or similar music, make a pot of coffee, prepare breakfast, and think about how I want the day to go. I vary this routine too, so I don’t get “stuck;”  I sometimes go out for breakfast to new and exciting places, or old and familiar ones.

But when we become entrenched in any particular part of our life, there can be signs of danger. This can easily happen in our work, or with our friends or romantic interest. When this occurs, it can cause us to be irritable, to lose our happiness and balance, or even to acquire a “dis-ease.”  When any of these signs appear, we should take notice and make an effort to get unstuck.

Here are some ways:

1. Take a long, late, lunch.  Most people eat lunch between 12-230. That’s the standard time. Shake things up a little and work through that time period; have lunch at about 4pm: it’s a totally different crowd you encounter, and the energy is different: it can really wake you up.

2. Have a reverse meal. Why should you always end a meal with dessert? No reason that I can think of. Try starting a meal with your favorite dessert, and ending with salad or soup. How does that make you feel?  It should make you realize that nothing is fixed in life, a good lesson to learn when you are stuck.

3. Invite an interesting new acquaintance home for dinner, or a game night. We meet people all the time: about 1000/year for the average person! And sometimes those people are extraordinary, and their experiences shared with your own can have real impact. But our sometimes busy lives get in the way. Make the effort now to get unstuck: learn more about someone new and who knows- they may have the key to unlock the next chapter of your life.

4. Take the long way home. Commuting can be a real drag, whether it’s by car, train, or even plane. Try a different route, or a different mode of transit. If you commute by car, try the public bus or train, or even a bicycle if possible. Not only will the scenery change, but you will meet a whole new class of people; perfect for getting unstuck.

5. Take an exciting day trip. It’s not always feasible to take a long vacation, or a longer break (intermezzo to the Italians), so focus on what’s available to you now. There are usually amazing sites, attractions, and experiences available  within one day of every major city in the United States.  And if you take a day off during the week,  you’ll get a more authentic experience.

6. Walk more. We have become a lazy society, with personal exceptions of course.  It doesn’t matter whether you live in a  city or suburb.  Walking slows things down and gives you a totally new perspective on  familiar landscapes.

7. Be accessible to others for anything. That sounds pretty broad, right? But what I mean is stop thinking about yourself. If someone asks a favor, do it when it’s convenient for them, not you. Thinking less about yourself  helps you get unstuck,  because the answer you are looking for is outside of yourself. And you never know what experience will reveal this.

8. Start a five minute meditation practice daily, and be vigilant about it. Meditation is an amazing tool to unlock what is hidden from the overwhelmed mind- a perfect tool to get you unstuck. Start with five minutes and extend  as you like.

9. Stop promising anything. We can promise so much to so many people in the course of a day. Just stop dong it. If you need to make any commitment to others, say you “might” do it. This technique is not designed to make you less responsible: quite the opposite is true. When you pare down your unfulfilled promises, you  realize what is really important, and what might be holding you back.

10. Become more generous with money. Money is a big issue for many people, and some people have a scarcity consciousness. One of the by-products of being generous is that you will be blessed constantly by others. This can be a powerful force to get you unstuck.