5 Simple Ways to Move from Stuck to Flourishing
Have you ever felt stuck in your health or life? Whether it’s a little or a lot, these five tips will help you shift from where you are to where you want to be.
As a Health and Mindset Coach, I work with people facing a wide range of challenges—from chronic pain, fatigue, and anxiety to overwhelm, limiting beliefs, and unwanted behaviours.
Regardless of the specific issue, there’s one thing they all have in common: they feel stuck. Despite their desire for change and repeated efforts to make progress, they find themselves encountering the same obstacles over and over again, unable to move beyond them.
How to Identify ‘Stuckness’
Feeling stuck can manifest as a foggy mind, an overwhelming focus on simply getting through the day, or being trapped in survival mode—reacting automatically or shutting down entirely.
Neuroscience research has shown that chronic stress and negative thinking patterns can lead to an overactive amygdala (the brain’s fear center) and reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for problem-solving and emotional regulation. This nervous system dysregulation can make it difficult to see solutions and keep us stuck in a cycle of stress and inertia.
When you're stuck, it can be confusing—especially if you don’t understand why you feel this way or why you can’t move forward. If this has been going on for months or even years, frustration can set in, and at its worst, it may start to feel hopeless.
The Opposite of Stuck
Many clients come to see me with the goal of resolving chronic health issues. But beyond just eliminating symptoms, my primary objective is to help them create a life they truly love. As a coach and mind-body practitioner, I guide and support them with the knowledge and tools needed to shift from stuck to flourishing.
Flourishing, a term defined in positive psychology, goes beyond simply feeling happy or experiencing positive emotions. It’s a state of well-being that involves feeling great while actively engaging in a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Shifting from Stuck to Flourishing
When you're deeply stuck, the idea of flourishing may feel like an impossible leap. So let’s build a bridge: here are five simple ways you can start shifting toward a flourishing life today.
1. Hack Your Biology and Shift Your State
One of the best ways to get unstuck is to shift your physiological and emotional state. Neuroscience shows that movement, laughter, and sensory stimulation can increase dopamine and serotonin levels, helping to create a more positive mindset. Imagine having a toolbelt stocked with go-to strategies that reliably help you feel better. If you’ve learned the Lightning Process®, that would be my first recommendation, but here are other powerful ways to shift your state:
Listen to music – Choose music you love! There’s a reason motivational seminars blast energetic music—it works.
Dance – Move your body in a way that feels good, and don’t hold back!
Connect – Reach out to someone you love and have a meaningful conversation.
Recall happy memories – Look through an old photo album and relive joyful moments.
Use scent to your advantage – Smells are strongly linked to memory and emotion. For example, the scent of a newborn triggers oxytocin (the “love hormone”) in mothers.
Laugh! – Watch funny videos or look up something that always makes you smile. Laughter has a powerful, positive effect on the body and mind, activating the release of endorphins and reducing cortisol levels.
2. Get Some Perspective
When you're stuck, it can feel like you can’t see the forest for the trees. Try zooming out—imagine looking down at your current situation from a higher vantage point. When you figuratively step back, your perspective changes, and new possibilities become visible.
For example, think of a time when you faced a challenge and later realized it wasn’t as bad as it seemed. Neuroscientific studies suggest that cognitive reframing—changing how we interpret a situation—can help rewire neural pathways and reduce stress.
3. Shift Your Mindset
Being stuck often comes with negative thoughts and limiting beliefs. Recognizing and shifting your internal dialogue can make a huge difference:
Reframe setbacks – Instead of seeing mistakes as failures, view them as valuable learning experiences. Research in neuroplasticity shows that our brains can rewire themselves through new thought patterns and experiences.
Focus on what’s within your control – If you catch yourself fixating on negativity, redirect your attention to what you can change.
Prioritize joy – Engage in activities that bring you happiness and fulfillment. Studies show that practicing gratitude and focusing on positive experiences can enhance neural connections associated with well-being.
4. Get Inspired with New Input
Feeling stuck is often accompanied by repetitive thoughts and a lack of curiosity. Break the cycle by introducing new information into your life. As Albert Einstein famously said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
Read books, watch inspirational videos, or listen to stories of people who have overcome obstacles and created a life they love. Exposure to new ideas can spark transformation. For instance, research suggests that exposure to novel experiences increases dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to motivation and learning.
5. Be Extra Kind to Yourself & Seek Support
Celebrate small wins. Our brains have an inherent negativity bias—it’s a survival mechanism designed to keep us safe. This means we need to put in extra effort to focus on what’s going right rather than what’s going wrong.
Self-compassion, as studied by psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff, has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and activate the brain’s self-soothing system, helping to foster resilience and motivation.
And most importantly, remember you are not alone. Seeking support from a coach or therapist can help you move forward with greater ease and confidence.
By implementing these five strategies, you can start shifting from feeling stuck to flourishing. Change doesn’t have to be overwhelming—small, consistent steps can create profound transformation over time. So, what’s one small step you can take today?
Hi I’m Liz.
Health & Mindset Coach and Advanced Lightning Process® Practitioner.
I specialise in empowering people stuck with chronic symptoms with the knowledge, skills and support to reclaim their health and transform their life.
If you are ready to learn how to influence your mind-body connection, join me on my next Lightning Process seminar, either online or in Sydney. Check out the next training dates here.
Want to know more about how we can work together, contact me for a free 20 minute discovery call.
