You’re Not Stuck. You’re Paused.

And You’re Allowed to Move

“Being stuck” is one of the most common feelings people bring into therapy, into conversations with friends, into quiet moments alone at night.

Stuck in a job.

Stuck in a relationship.

Stuck in a role you outgrew.

Stuck in a version of life that no longer fits.

And often, the most painful part isn’t the situation itself, it’s the belief that you can’t leave it.

Stuck Doesn’t Always Mean Miserable

Here’s something we don’t talk about enough: You don’t have to hate your life to feel stuck in it.

You might have a good job. A stable relationship. A life that looks “fine” on paper. And still feel that quiet pull that says, there’s more for me.

Sometimes you stay because:

• You feel loyal

• You don’t want to disappoint anyone

• You feel like you owe the job, the person, the situation something

• You’re afraid of seeming selfish

So you tell yourself to be grateful.

You silence the discomfort.

You stay.

But gratitude doesn’t mean obligation.

And growth doesn’t require permission.

The Cost of Staying Is Often Higher Than the Fear of Leaving

We tend to overestimate how hard leaving will be—and underestimate how much staying is already costing us.

Staying can cost you:

• Energy

• Confidence

• Creativity

• Joy

• Your sense of self

The idea of being stuck is often heavier than the action of moving. Our minds create worst-case scenarios, while reality usually unfolds one step at a time.

You don’t need the entire plan. You need the willingness to move at all.

You Are Allowed to Put Yourself First

This is where many people get stuck, not in logistics, but in guilt.

You’re allowed to want better. You’re allowed to choose yourself. You’re allowed to walk toward something new even if what you’re leaving wasn’t “bad enough.”

Selfishness isn’t choosing yourself. Selfishness is expecting yourself to stay small so others stay comfortable.

When It Really Is Complicated

Let’s be clear: not all “stuck” situations are the same.

Some situations are genuinely complex:

• Shared finances

• Owning a home together

• Children

• Cultural, emotional, or safety factors

• Domestic violence or abusive relationships

In these cases, leaving may not be immediate or safe. And acknowledging that matters.

This message is not about shaming people who can’t leave yet.

It’s about empowering people who think they can’t, but actually can.

More often than not, the chains are mental before they’re physical.

And even when leaving isn’t possible right now, awareness is still movement.

The Shift Starts Internally

Change doesn’t begin with quitting the job or ending the relationship.

It begins with a quiet but powerful realization:

I deserve more than this.

More peace.

More alignment.

More choice.

More room to grow.

Once you believe that, everything changes. You start looking for options instead of reasons to stay.

You start asking different questions.

You start imagining a future that doesn’t feel heavy.

That’s not impulsive. That’s clarity.

You Don’t Have to Stay Stagnant

You don’t need to be stuck forever. You don’t need to stay where you’ve outgrown. You don’t need to keep living on pause.

Movement can be small:

• Updating a resume

• Having an honest conversation

• Talking to someone you trust

• Exploring resources

• Letting yourself imagine a different life

You don’t need to leap.

You just need to step.

Reflection

Ask yourself:

• Where do I feel stuck right now?

• Am I truly unable to leave or am I afraid to?

• What would change if I believed I deserved better?

You don’t have to have all the answers today.

But you are allowed to stop telling yourself there are none.

You are deserving of good things. You are deserving of better things. And you are allowed to move toward them, at your pace, in your way, starting now.

If you're ready to stop being stuck and want help with getting "unstuck", let me be your guide. Book a consultation with me today and let's work towards what you deserve.

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