Stuck, but not broken

Only one step forward is all what you need today

There’s a kind of stuckness that doesn’t scream.

It whispers. It lingers. It becomes your routine.

You start to forget what momentum feels like.

That’s where I’ve been lately.

Stuck in a job that drains me — physically, emotionally, mentally. I’ve been wanting to grow for years. I’ve applied for promotions, tried to show initiative, hoped to be seen. But nothing seemed to move.

For a long time, I repeated the same story to myself:

*“I’m not being chosen because I don’t know the right people.”*

And maybe that’s true. Maybe sometimes, opportunities go to those who are better connected. But that belief — while comforting — started to cage me. It convinced me that unless someone vouched for me, I would never get the chance to show what I’m capable of.

And here’s the harder truth:

If I dig deeper, I realize I’ve been afraid.

Afraid to face the fact that maybe I don’t know how to navigate office politics. That I avoid networking because it feels unnatural. That as an introvert, the idea of putting myself out there feels... uncomfortable. And uncomfortable is scary.

But recently, I applied for a promotion again.

And this time, I’m approaching it differently.

No more hiding. No more stories.

Just small, real steps toward showing up fully.

I’m choosing to do my part — to stop waiting for someone else to validate me and instead demonstrate who I am and what I can offer.

This pattern — of feeling stuck and blaming something outside myself — isn’t new.

Years ago, I carried a lot of resentment toward my parents. I felt like I wasn’t allowed to express myself growing up, like my freedom was constantly limited, like my voice didn’t matter. I blamed them for my loneliness, my lack of confidence, my unhappiness. I told myself that because of them, I didn’t know how to connect with others. That’s why I didn’t have friends. That’s why I couldn’t enjoy life the way I wanted.

And maybe, in some ways, I had a point.

But here’s what I’ve learned with time:

Healing doesn’t come from blaming.

Healing begins when we take responsibility for what happens next.

What my parents did, they did from a place of love — and within the limits of what they knew. It wasn’t perfect. But now it’s my turn. My life. My choices.

So I started doing the work.

I sat with myself.

I got honest.

I looked at my patterns, my traumas, my responses.

I began to unravel the mess gently, without shame.

And I’m still in the process.

But I’ve come a long way.

And I’m proud — not because I’ve figured everything out, but because I’ve stopped running from myself. I’ve learned how to sit with discomfort. How to take tiny steps. How to offer myself compassion when I mess up. How to keep moving forward, even when I’m afraid.

Yes, it’s terrifying to admit that no one’s coming to save you.

That you have to face the struggle and do the work.

But it’s also liberating.

Because it means your life is still in your hands.

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If You’re Feeling Stuck, Try This:

I don’t have a magic fix. But I’ve been there.

Here’s what helped me — and might help you too:

1. Get brutally honest with yourself.

Ask: What role am I playing in keeping myself here?

It's hard, but it's where everything begins.

2. Drop the blame — even if it feels justified.

Some of your circumstances may not be your fault. But if you want to grow, stop waiting for someone to rescue or apologize. Take your power back.

3. Do one uncomfortable thing.

Apply. Speak up. Ask. Learn. Try.

The discomfort is often where the next chapter begins.

4. Make your steps ridiculously small.

You don’t need a full plan. You just need a first move.

Clarity often comes after action — not before it.

5. Stop asking for permission.

You don’t need anyone to approve your growth.

You’re allowed to want more. You’re allowed to change.

6. Celebrate progress — not perfection.

You will mess up. You will doubt. You will feel lost again.

That’s okay. Progress is messy. Keep going anyway.

If you’re stuck, you’re not broken.

You’re just being called to move.

Even if it’s slowly. Even if it’s quietly.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

Just take one small step.

Then take another.

And trust — even in the dark — that forward is still forward.

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Thanks for reading. If this spoke to you, feel free to reply, share, or forward it to someone else who might be stuck too. Sometimes, all we need is to feel a little less alone.

The Flying Misfit