Feeling stuck? You’re not alone.
Most people are excellent at working hard and waiting. I call it sitting in stuckness.
When we feel stuck, we replay the same thoughts:
- “This is how it is.”
- “I can’t leave this job.”
- “I’ll never find something better.”
And that’s how you know your thinking is stuck in a loop.
But here’s the truth:
- Stuckness isn’t permanent.
- It’s just one perspective.
- And we can shift those.
Why Decision-Making Feels Stuck
Our decisions are often shaped by:
- Past experiences
- Emotional triggers
- The stories we tell ourselves
But what if the perspective you’re holding isn’t The Truth?
A Client Story: Mary’s Breakthrough
“Mary” was a medic navigating her second career, struggling with overwhelm but feeling stuck. She believed she had to endure the relentless pace of emergency medicine because that was the pivot plan she had set herself.
And she couldn’t afford to change direction—or so she thought.
In truth, she couldn’t afford not to.
The cost of staying in work that was so misaligned was high:
- Rising panic in emergencies
- Feeling disconnected from her work
- Confidence erosion bleeding into all areas of her life
- Realising her work no longer aligned with her values
Shifting Perspectives: The Key to Unlocking Clarity
Through my Power of Perspectives framework, Mary uncovered something surprising:
The problem wasn’t her career choice—it was her environment.
What mattered most to her was having:
- Time to make meaningful impacts on children’s health
- Space to express compassion for families
During our perspectives exercise, Mary examined her career challenges through various lenses, including the lens of a wild horse.
What she realised surprised us both:
She didn’t envision galloping away.
Instead, she discovered she had choices—disruptive but achievable ones.
With this newfound clarity, Mary gained the stamina to stay in her current role long enough to plan detailed next steps.
Now? She’s thriving as a clinical geneticist, doing healthcare work that is purposeful and fully aligned with her values.
Her transformation wasn’t magical—it was the direct result of shifting her perspective.
How You Can Shift Your Perspective
- Pause and reflect
- What story are you telling yourself about your situation?
- What facts support that story—and what might be missing?
- Shift your lens
Imagine viewing your problem from different perspectives, such as:
- A wild horse
- A curious child
- From 40,000 feet in the air
- Your future self, 10 years ahead
- Reframe the question
Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?” ask, “What can I learn from this?”
Take five minutes to consider how this fresh perspective could guide your next step.
Leadership Coaching and the Power of Perspective
The ability to shift perspective isn’t just for individuals—it’s a critical skill for leaders too. Leadership coaching often focuses on helping professionals identify limiting beliefs and reframe challenges into opportunities for growth.
If you’re feeling stuck, whether it’s in your career or in how you’re leading others, perspective shifts can be the key to unlocking clarity and alignment.
Your Turn
Take a moment to reflect:
- What is the career or leadership problem you’re trying to solve?
- How might the Power of Perspective help you find the clarity to move forward?
If you’d like deeper guidance, this is exactly the kind of work we explore in my book Unstuck and its online companion course.
Ready to start shifting your perspective? Reach out, and let’s talk.
