Reinventing Yourself: The Art of Getting Unstuck

Do you feel stuck? Stuck at work? Stuck in life? Have you ever thought of reinventing yourself? If you ever think that you want to become more, do more, or leave something in your current life behind, a reinvention may be just what you need.

Truthfully, reinvention takes time and work. However, what’s the alternative? Staying stuck?

First, let me clarify that a reinvention should not be confused with the you-better-change-your-ways-or-else intervention that is imposed upon you when family or friends think you need to stop a behavior.

Reinventing yourself is a self-imposed change that is less volatile and you call the shots. It’s a way for you to take stock of your life and decide what you should do to make it better. Not so hard, right?

How much work is this gonna be?

Reinventing yourself could be as simple as changing careers, altering your lifestyle or making a plan to let go of some undesirable habits. Sometimes, life-changes, like divorce bring about a need for reinventing yourself. There is nothing about reinvention that happens overnight. It’s a take-your-time type of event.

It has taken me years to change my career and even my habits to the best of who I want to be. I believe in the mantra slow and steady wins the race.

I also notice that when I try to take on too many things at once, it becomes counter-productive. Truthfully, reinvention takes time and work. However, what’s the alternative? Staying stuck?

If you think it’s time for a change, answering these three questions will help you get unstuck. Then, you’ll be well on your way to discover your best you as you are reinventing yourself.

1] What do you want to get?

This is not a keeping-up-with-the Jones’ type comparison about getting stuff. In simple terms, this is about defining what you want your life to look like after reinventing yourself. Years ago when I was frustrated with my work, I knew a reinvention was in order.

There are so many ways to narrow down your choices. If you’re considering a career change, you’ll get good guidance from What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles. If it’s more of a who-am-I-called-to-be change, you won’t go wrong with the book If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg.

Years ago, after much planning and praying, I left a very good job after Ortberg’s powerful call-to-action words. I took a leap of faith to get unstuck.  At the time, I didn’t know what I was hoping or looking for, so it took some exploring and pondering to finally define it. Whatever change you’re hoping for, you’ll have to know it and name it.

2] When will you get there?

Change takes planning and time.

Some people lose heart in this part. It seems so hard to make plans and stick with them. I always start a project with the end in mind and you should too. There is so much information about goals and planning.

So much so that it can become overwhelming and cause you to do nothing.

Just keep things simple. I have greater success when I keep things simple. Reinventing yourself should be a rewarding effort that you work at over time. Write down what you hope to accomplish and put a deadline next to it–even if the deadline is years away.

3] How will you make this possible?

You’ll do it one bite at a time. Yes, it’s the adage “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” It works and I can’t begin to list the things I’ve accomplished by taking baby steps.

Here’s how it works. Write down a large goal and then write smaller goals and deadlines that can be done a little at a time. The best part of the baby steps method is that you get motivated by the small steps as you are working toward the big accomplishment.

Do you still need more of a push to get unstuck?

My post Five Ways to Really Make 2020 Better will help you get motivated.

Sometimes starting is half the battle.