How to Get Unstuck: A Therapist’s Guide for High-Achieving Women in Life Transitions
Let’s be real: being stuck sucks.
You’re not broken, lazy, or ungrateful. You’re just… in a space between where you are and where you know you’re supposed to be. And sometimes, that gap feels like a canyon.
I’ve been stuck plenty of times in my own life. And that’s exactly why I’m so passionate about helping other women—especially high-functioning, high-achieving, highly everything women—get unstuck, too.
For me, that feeling usually starts with what I call a “stirring in my spirit.”
It’s that subtle (or not-so-subtle) nudge that something needs to shift. If I ignore it? Whew. That’s when I find myself stuck AF—restless, irritable, second-guessing every move, and quietly overwhelmed.
Sound familiar?
You Don’t Need to “Figure It Out”—You Need to Move.
The good news? You don’t have to leap out of the stuck-ness in one bold move. You just need to start shifting—intentionally, compassionately, and with a plan that meets you where you are.
Here’s where to begin:
6 Ways to Go From Stuck to Unstuck
1. Set Up Accountability That Works for You
Whether it’s a therapist, a coach, or your “no BS” best friend, name someone who can help you see yourself clearly. Ask them to check in—not to nag, but to support your forward motion.
2. Give Yourself a Deadline (Yes, a Loving One)
“Someday” is a myth. If you’re waiting for clarity to drop from the sky, I’ve got bad news: it usually arrives after you act. Set a time frame. Three weeks. One month. Ninety days. Your timeline, your terms.
3. Name the Fear—and Then Don’t Let It Drive
Fear isn’t the enemy—it’s a protector. But when fear gets behind the wheel, you’ll never leave the parking lot. Be afraid and move anyway. Boldness isn’t the absence of fear—it’s forward motion with shaking hands.
4. Borrow Belief from Role Models
Find someone who’s made a similar move—left the job, changed the relationship, pivoted the career—and study their path. Ask questions. Let their tenacity remind you that your future isn’t a fantasy.
5. Shift Your Thoughts = Shift Your Actions
Nothing changes until your mind does. Notice the internal loops that keep you stuck (“I can’t,” “What if I fail?”), and gently challenge them. Speak to yourself like someone you love. Courage begins with kindness.
6. Create Quiet for Clarity
We can’t hear ourselves in the noise. Step away—literally. Take a walk, shut down the notifications, sit with your journal. Let your intuition whisper what your anxiety’s been shouting over.
Action Creates Clarity
Here’s the truth most people avoid: Staying stuck is easier than facing change. It’s familiar. It’s predictable. It lets you postpone the discomfort of doing something different. But eventually, that comfort turns into resentment. Exhaustion. Numbness.
You don’t have to wait until everything’s falling apart to take action.
You get to pivot now.
Try This: Make a Mini-Move
Pick one area where you feel stuck (career, relationship, routine).
Choose a 30–60 day window.
Break it into steps—small, doable ones. (Shout out to my fellow box-checkers!)
Track your progress and notice how each action changes your energy.
Example: stuck in your relationship?
Maybe it’s not about deciding today whether to stay or go. Maybe it’s about starting with communication. Reading a book. Bringing it to therapy. Gathering real data so your decision has weight.
Repeat as Needed
Once you walk yourself through this process once, you’ll start to trust it. You’ll trust yourself. And the next time stuck-ness shows up (because it will—it’s life), you’ll know how to move through it with more clarity, confidence, and grace.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
If you’re ready to get unstuck but don’t know where to begin, that’s what I’m here for.
📥 Download the free guide: How to Go from Stuck to Unstuck
📞 Book a consultation if you want to talk it out with someone who gets it.
You’re not too much. You’re not behind. You’re just in the middle of becoming the next version of yourself.
Let’s move.
—
Jennifer Walker, LCSW