1,2,3 of getting out of a rut
Sometimes, our lives get stuck in a rut. If not in all areas, at least in some. Our career, relationships, health, spirituality, personal growth - any of these may be at a stalemate. Sometimes, you may be in a rut and not even know it. Take a moment out exclusively for your personal growth, and think about this - is there any area in your life that is in a rut? Is there any area where you need to get a breath of fresh air? Identify the area, if any.
You have to be honest with yourself and take responsibility for the state you are in. No matter what we tell ourselves and others, we are primarily responsible for our own life, not family or friends or childhood experiences or bad economy or age. Once we assume responsibility, it immediately causes a shift in our mindset and makes us realize that we are capable of changing it. When we place the blame on other things, we are surrendering control to them and becoming sitting ducks. But as empowered individuals, it is important that we are able to take an honest look at our life and identify what areas are stagnant.
Once you have identified the area which needs improvement, some simple techniques can help to get you out of that rut. I am outlining three steps here, and each step has a unique technique associated with it. Applying these techniques can help to take you from the problem mode to the solution mode.
1. Visualize your ideal situation
In this step, you can visualize exactly, as clearly as possible, what the ideal situation in that particular area is. If you are stuck in a rut when it comes to your social life, imagine a much more popular you, surrounded with friends and activities. It is not an idle wishful thinking process. You are not lazily and vaguely thinking of how things should be, but you are forming a concrete idea of exactly what the ideal situation is like. The key to this technique lies in watching the ideal you. How are you dressed? What kind of people are with you? How are you behaving? What is your routine? Go through each one closely, and identify what all differences you notice between your present situation and the ideal situation. Note them down. These come handy in the further steps.
2. Identify the path to the solution
When you reach this step, you are already on your way out of the rut. Here, you start looking for solutions. Identifying the tools at your disposal is the key technique in this step. Find out what you already have, that can help solve this problem. Can you carve more time out of your schedule? If so, then time is a tool. Do you know someone who can mentor you to get to your ideal state? That person is a tool. Is there any online help available? Is there any particular skill you have, which can help? Is your location conducive to promoting your interests? Once you have your tools inventory, you can chart out a path to the solution. You may decide that you can join a new activity group to meet new people. Or you may decide to learn conversational skills from the internet. Or you may find that you can host a party at your place and invite people over. Use your imagination, creativity and the internet to help identify the path that best suits your unique situation.
3. Break the pattern
Now that you know how to get to your ideal situation, you need to break the pattern you are set in. You can start by having manageable goals, which could challenge you to take steps towards that solution. Maybe your goal is to find and join an activity club by the end of the week. Another way to break your pattern is to disrupt your routine. Maybe you would decide to go to a Toastmasters club on Monday evenings in stead of watching TV. Yet another technique to break the pattern is to remove the things in your life that make you stick to the pattern. Is TV taking up all your time? Unplug it! Are there negative people in your life who make you feel you can never have a good social life? Pull away from them by joining any activity scheduled for the time you usually spend with them. In a variety of ways, you can break the pattern. Once you do, you will take charge of the situation again.
These steps can help you to move out of stagnant phases in your life. Making a conscious decision to do something about your situation in itself is a huge sign that the winds are changing. And when you do, you will be amazed at how simple the change may actually be, and how fulfilled it makes you feel.
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