How to Get Unstuck? You Already Know What to Do

This kitty may look stuck, but trust — they know how to move through, even with fear.

“I just feel stuck.”

It’s the number one theme I’m hearing in my ICF coaching practice right now. Clients arrive feeling trapped — unsure how to move forward. And here’s the kicker, they have clarity on what they want to do next; they’ve already brainstormed, strategized, and started making several moves.

The real challenge isn’t lack of clarity or direction. It’s fear.

Richard Boyatzis, a leading researcher in emotional intelligence and change leadership, calls this the gap between ideal self and current self. His Intentional Change Theory (ICT) explains that lasting growth begins with a vision that ignites hope and resonance. When people focus too much on performance gaps or mistakes, they activate the brain’s stress response. That stress narrows thinking, drains creativity, and keeps you frozen in place.

Feeling stuck, then, isn’t about not knowing — it’s about being disconnected from the emotional energy that fuels change. The antidote isn’t to push harder; it’s to reconnect with what matters most. Boyatzis’s research shows that when you re-engage with your ideal self — the version of you that feels purposeful, aligned, and alive — you shift from a threat-based mindset to one grounded in possibility. That shift rewires the brain for openness, learning, and forward motion.

So how do you get unstuck? Start small and start from meaning:

• Revisit your why. What vision or value truly matters to you right now?

• Notice the fear without judgment — it’s just your nervous system trying to protect you.

• Take one small, tiny action that aligns with that deeper purpose.

Movement follows emotional resonance. When you lead from hope instead of fear, momentum becomes natural. You already know what to do — the key is remembering why it matters.