The Real Reason You Feel Stuck (It’s Not What You Think)

Ever feel like you’ve had one of those days?

There are days that seem to drag on for me. Some days feel heavy. And on others, it feels like I'm doing everything correctly, yet I still question if anything is truly moving the ball down the field. Two steps forward, one step backwards. Perhaps you feel stuck in whatever thing you've committed yourself to. It might not be for the reasons you think.

Consider this quote:

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

I keep coming back to this idea. It's an idea that I almost need to repeat outloud to myself fairly consistently. Why? Because inevitably I know that planting is the quiet work that eventually transforms everything. I was reminded of this while listening to a real estate podcast of all things earlier Monday morning. They presented several anchoring truths that, organically, I have lived by in this past season.

I thought it would be beneficial to arrange these organic thoughts. Consider them anchoring seeds that I continue to plant, even when I am unaware of what is occurring below the surface. Here they are:

• Choose your hard. Every version of life has difficulty baked in. I’m learning to choose the hard that shapes me, not the hard that comes from avoiding growth. One leads to strength; the other leads to spinning my wheels. Which will make me better? Lean into it.

  
  

• Keep showing up. I’ve stopped waiting for perfect conditions. The perfect wave does not exist. Most breakthroughs happen on the days I almost didn’t bother. The courageous move is consistency. Most people give up. I'm going to show up.

  
  

• Eliminate distractions. For me, this involves setting clear boundaries, closing unnecessary tabs, distancing myself from noise, and not allowing the urgent to divert attention from what needs to be the right thing to do right now. Quick tips? First - Engage in spiritual activities in the morning before going digital (Thank you Chris Hodges). Then, consider these suggestions - Unsubscribe. Say "no" or "not now" when necessary. Reserve time on your calendar for important projects. Manage your notifications strategically. Reduce social media use. Create margin in your calendar to think. You get where I'm going.

  
  

• Double downing on habits. Goals. Disciplines. Personal and professional. When life gets chaotic, I try and fall back on routines that steady me: morning rhythms, quiet check-ins, simple systems that keep me grounded. Small daily wins build long-term stability. Big challenges get solved through small, consistent actions steps. You have to take the first step to walk that mile.

  
  

• Lean into leadership. Not the loud, seminar-orchestrated workshop kind of leadership. Those are fine. I'm talking about leadership that shows up in how I carry myself, how I treat people, and how I own my choices.

  
  

• Radical transparency. I’m learning to speak honestly about where I struggle and where I’m growing. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s liberating, and, it creates trust that can’t be faked. Transparency is currency when working with other humanoids. Transparency is the most effective tool for relevancy.

  
  

• Look forward to the fruit! Not instantly. Not always visibly. But inevitably. I heard this phrase one time and wish I could remember who said it in order to give proper credit. "Seeds don’t forget what they’re designed to become." Keep doing the work above, and the fruit will show up. The problem is, we give up too quickly. Keep doing the hard work. You don't just decide to accomplish the marathon. You have to keep training.

In the end, growth isn’t dramatic. It’s deliberate. And if we keep planting, keep choosing the harder, but wiser path, the harvest has a way of showing up right on time. I have found this to be true. I want this for you too!

May you own your own day with intentionality. Let me know if I can coach you through any of this. I'm cheering for you! ~ Paul