How To Get Unstuck

There are few things more frustrating than feeling stuck—knowing you want more from life, but not having the first clue how to move forward. It's a mental trap that can make even the most capable person feel powerless. Whether you've already achieved success but feel stuck in the mud or still waiting for your big breakthrough, feeling stuck is a prison.

But here's the good news: If you're feeling this way, it's not the end of the story. It simply means you've hit a bottleneck—one or more blocks holding you back from moving toward the life you want. Understanding these blocks is the first step toward breaking free and getting back on track.

Let's walk through the four main roadblocks that keep you stuck and how to overcome them.

The Four Roadblocks To Getting Unstuck

Lack of Vision

One of the most common reasons people get stuck is because they don't have a clear vision of what they're working toward. It's not just about setting goals—it's about having a roadmap outlining where you want to go and how you'll get there. Many people think they've done the work when they say, "I want to build a net worth of $X," "I want to reach this level in my career or business," or "I want a fulfilling relationship." However, vague goals like these, without a plan, lead to more frustration than not setting any goals.

Having an end in mind is not enough to create a Vision. You also need to map out the steps required to get there. Without this clarity, your mind struggles to gain traction. The result? You feel like you're treading water—busy but not making progress.

This lack of vision is like setting out on a road trip without a destination or a map. You might drive for hours, but you won't get anywhere meaningful.

Lack of vision creates a feedback loop where you hesitate to take any action because you don't know your next step. Over time, this inaction builds frustration and can reinforce the idea that growth is out of reach. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone—many people hit this wall when they realize they know what they want but have no idea how to get there.

Lack of Skill

Once you know WHAT to do, you then need the skills and abilities to execute that plan. That makes the next bottleneck a lack of skill.

Skills take time to develop, and progress requires a willingness to get your hands dirty. When you get caught in a toxic personal development loop, you spend a lot of time planning and refining your vision but little time on the practical, hands-on work needed to build the necessary skills.

It's common to get stuck in the planning phase. It feels productive—but real growth happens when you engage with the process, make mistakes, and learn through iteration.

Without actively working to close skill gaps, you get stuck living only in your Vision, a dream that, over time, turns into a nightmare.

Lack of Energy

Even when you have both a clear vision and the necessary skills, energy is the fuel that makes everything possible. Without it, you can't perform at your best, no matter how clear your goals are or how capable you've become.

This is where many would-be high performers get stuck—especially those who try to push through exhaustion, burnout, and overwhelm.

It's a common misconception that success requires sacrificing rest, nutrition, and fitness. It may feel like these sacrifices are giving you extra time, and they do, but the additional time is wasted due to your diminished ability to perform at a high level.

Many high performers know this intuitively, which is why they make their health a top priority. They understand that proper energy management is essential for long-term success.

Think of your body and mind like a Formula One race car—it can be engineered to near perfection but is still just a useless hunk of metal without fuel in the tank.

Energy isn't just about physical stamina; it's also about mental clarity and emotional fortitude. When these systems are out of sync, even the most motivated person can find themselves stuck in a cycle of fatigue and frustration.

Detrimental Mental Programs

Sometimes, the biggest obstacle isn't external—it's internal. Even when you know what to do, have the skills, and are bursting with energy, our subconscious habits and patterns can force progress to a dead stop. These are what I call Detrimental Mental Programs.

Formed as a protection mechanism for past experiences, what was once designed to benefit you now act as invisible barriers that hold you back from progress. Even when you consciously know what to do, these programs create resistance, fear, and self-sabotage.

Have you ever noticed yourself hesitating to take action, even when you know exactly what needs to be done? Or do you hit a certain level of success only to find yourself slipping back into old patterns where you feel more comfortable? If so, there's a good chance that a Detrimental Mental Program is running in the background.

What makes these programs so frustrating is that they aren't logical—they operate at a subconscious level beyond your immediate awareness.

You might even feel like there's an invisible force holding you back from moving forward, and no amount of rational thinking seems to help.

Addressing these programs requires a deeper understanding of their origins and how they influence your decisions today.

Get Unstuck Today

Identify Your Bottleneck

Take a few minutes to reflect on the four roadblocks: Lack of Vision, Skill, Energy, and Detrimental Mental Programs. Which one feels most relevant to you right now? There's often more than one but focus on the most significant bottleneck first. Once you clear that, progress will follow.

Take Small, Strategic Actions

Once you've identified your bottleneck, think about a small action you can take today to address it. If it's a lack of vision, sketch out your roadmap. If it's a skill gap, sign up for a course or practice what you need to improve. If it's low energy, prioritize sleep and exercise. If it's a mental program, dive into the Primed Mind app or explore working with a member of our Performance Coaching Team.

Commit to Daily Progress

Getting unstuck is about momentum. Commit to doing at least one small thing daily that digs you out of your hole. Progress doesn't have to be perfect—what matters is that you keep moving forward.

Each of these roadblocks presents an opportunity for growth. Getting unstuck isn't easy, but it's always worth it. With every step you take—refining your vision, building new skills, regaining energy, or rewriting mental patterns—you move closer to becoming the best version of yourself.

So, my question to you is this: Where are you stuck? And more importantly, what are you going to do about it today?

See you next week,
Elliot Roe