Blake’s Take

Blake Johnson
Blake’s Take

Dear Anonymous,

Thank you for writing and sharing your predicament. I think it helps to know that your situation is extremely common. Most, if not all, of us will find ourselves in a rut at some point. More than likely, it will happen more than once. You would think that, with our sophisticated problem-solving skills, feeling trapped would be rare and changing a routine would be easy. On the contrary, because we are also habitual creatures, escaping a nonproductive routine can require some effort. In severe cases, escape can even feel out of reach or hopeless.

There are a lot of reasons someone may find themselves stuck in a rut. For me, the most common contributors have been fear, apathy, and bad habits. Of the three, I think fear presents the broadest range of effects. Sometimes it’s easily controlled, and other times it’s utterly debilitating. For example, some children can overcome their fear of water simply by watching other kids splash and play around, while others get water up their nose and decide never to go near it again. The first group of children was able to defeat their fear with a simple change of mindset. The second group may never change their mind. For them, a more intensive approach may be required. Treatments like cognitive behavioral and exposure therapy can be very effective. The important thing to note is that there are ways to conquer all levels of fear.

Apathy, or lack of motivation, can be just as debilitating but may be a little easier to overcome. Motivation keeps us moving forward in life. When we get stuck, it feels like a switch is turned off. To get it back on, we just need a small spark. Two things I have used to ignite motivation are setting small, achievable goals and looking around for inspiration. Setting small, achievable goals may seem tedious, but it helps build momentum. Momentum moves you toward accomplishments and accomplishments boost confidence. Confidence is very effective for maintaining motivation. Once you develop a new pattern, your ambitions will take off and accomplishing goals will become addictive. If at any time you need inspiration, just look around. Find motivation in others or whatever is available around you. Surround yourself with problem-solving people and material. Before long, you will develop a mind that overcomes obstacles without even noticing them.

Last on the list is bad habits. Because we are habitual creatures, we have no problem creating habits; we just need to use them to our advantage. Habits usually evolve from a series of repetitive actions. I have often heard that to create a habit, you must repeat an action for at least 21 days. I believe this formula to be true and have used it successfully many times. The objective is to create habits that propel you toward your goals. For example, if your goal is to get in better shape, make a habit of exercising every day or several times a week. After 21 days, your mind and body will start to prefer exercise over lounging around the house. Once you reach your goal or desired fitness, simply keep up the habit. Maintaining it is much easier than starting from scratch.

Knowing your vulnerabilities is crucial. If it is something other than fear, apathy, or habits, try to figure it out so you can find the right solution. Look on the Internet, talk to successful people, or find books related to the topic. At the very least, fixate on solutions, not the problem. I believe that by doing that and setting achievable goals, you will break the cycle and be well on your way to leading an exciting, meaningful life.

I hope some of this helps you find a way to move forward and avoid any future ruts.

Sincerely,