Outward success doesn’t necessarily mean that we have it all. What’s going on inside might be very different.

It’s like the time I completed my nth audit and had a very happy client who agreed to a fee raise. This meant I met my KPI target and got a 25% pay raise.

Yet, inside I thought, if I ever have to do another audit, I’ll throw up.

What used to give me satisfaction suddenly didn’t make sense. I’ve had clients tell me that they too have experienced the same feeling leading them to query whether they want a job or career change.

Something has to give. The status quo is challenged.

At some point or the other, each one of us has felt that we are caught in a rut, cannot move forward and cannot move backwards.  There’s  a Hindi phrase for it – Trishanku’s Heaven.

A sense of claustrophobia sets in and is quite apparent to those around us from our behavior. The Law of Attraction tells us that “like attracts like”.

If we are despondent and view the world negatively, we’ll only attract more negativity sinking deeper into our rut.

Self-help books and counseling may offer solutions.

However, at the end of the day, it is up to us to get up, shake ourselves free of whatever is holding us back and have a go at getting what we want.

Step out of your comfort zone and shake things up a little to get rid of your inertia

Whether it is a slight tweak to our routine or a life changing decision, the best way to go about it is with baby steps.

Stepping out of your comfort zone means you need to ensure you sustain your commitment and energy levels not to mention drive to get things moving. Be comfortable in what you are doing. As your confidence goes up, you will dare to go further and challenge yourself.

Do something new today  

Just shaking up your routine creates a ripple effect for you.  Again, it does not have to be earth shattering.

Why not make a change to your exercise routine or try out a new restaurant for Sunday lunch?

New activities bring new perspectives and a different view of the world, whether outside of or within you. You might just find the missing piece of the puzzle that will get you out of your rut.

Deal with your fears head on

Whether it is societal conditioning or a limiting belief that you hold about yourself or your abilities, sit down and analyze where the fear is coming from.

If you find yourself procrastinating, ask yourself, what is stopping you, what do you believe, what is the fear behind the belief?

Challenge yourself to step out and deal with the issue on hand.

Ask yourself, what is the worst that can happen? Most probably not enough to stop you from stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something concrete to get out of the state of inertia.

Stop treating the situation like a problem to be solved

Most importantly, when faced with a situation, don’t think of it as a problem and get caught. Instead, see it as an opportunity for growth and change and a chance to challenge yourself to the limit. Remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Stand in the realm of possibility. See what happens when you step out of your comfort zone and make changes. Keep a journal for a week and note down on a daily basis

        In what ways were you open or closed to possibilities today?

        What triggered your being open or closed?

        What were the outcomes of your being open or closed?

        When you remained open, what impact did that have on your behavior and of those around you?

Take stock at the end of the week about the changes you noticed in yourself and your situation and celebrate the joys of stepping out of your comfort zone, getting out of your rut and walking into the sunshine.

What definitive action will You take today?

Every transformation journey starts with the intention to change – get your copy of the quiz here.