Feeling Stuck in a Life Pivot? How to Start When You’re Not Sure What’s Next
The Foggy Starting Line
You sit down with a cup of coffee, ready to finally "figure it out"—that big life change or goal you've been thinking about for weeks. And then… nothing. Just a blank page and too many tabs open.
Maybe it's a career change or a goal to eat better or exercise more. We've all been there—motivated toward the "thing" but caught in a state of being stuck. You might be unsure how to begin or need a strategy to move you forward. It's easy to underestimate just how challenging that first step can be.
Why It's So Hard to Begin
The Mental Roadblocks That Keep Us Spinning
When we think about getting started, we often imagine the challenge is about motivation or discipline. But it's more about the mental roadblocks we don't always see clearly.
For starters, there are often too many options. It can feel like standing at a fork in the road with not two, but five or ten directions to choose from. And none of them feel obvious. That pressure to choose "correctly" can keep us from moving at all.
Then there's the fear of commitment. What if we start down a path and realize it's not the right one? What if we can't turn back? That worry, though common, can stop momentum before it ever starts.
We also tend to overestimate how ready we need to be. Waiting for the perfect plan is another big one—we think we need everything figured out before taking action. And for those of us who like structure, that mindset can lead to endless prepping and no movement.
And, of course, there's the trap of analysis paralysis. Research and preparation can feel productive, but too much can actually make us more confused. We pile on more options, more questions, and more uncertainty—and end up feeling even less confident than when we started.
The Truth About Getting Started
Spoiler: You Don't Need a Perfect Plan
I like plans. I don't like ambiguity. But sometimes, what I've learned at work ends up helping in life, too.
In my experience, technology projects almost always start in ambiguity. I've come to describe my career as one long exercise in navigating the unknown—often kicking off a project with nothing more than a comment or a one-pager.
Over time, I've realized that you don't actually need to see the entire path before you begin. You just need to take the next step that feels doable. It's a bit like walking through a fog—you may only see a few feet ahead, but with each small step, a little more of the path reveals itself. That slow unfolding becomes your way forward.
The mistake we often make is assuming that clarity comes before action. In most cases, it's actually the other way around. Action creates clarity. We learn what works and what doesn't by doing, not by thinking alone. Starting, even when unsure, builds the momentum we need to keep going.
What Happens When You Do Take That Step?
There's something subtle but powerful that shifts when we stop planning and start doing. The energy changes. The inner narrative quiets down. You're no longer stuck thinking about the work—you're in it.
And when you're in it, you stop asking, "Is this the right choice?" and start asking better questions like, "What did I learn from this?" or "What feels possible now that I've started?"
That first step doesn't just get you closer to the goal. It changes how you see yourself. You go from someone who's stuck to someone in motion.
Simple Ways to Get Unstuck
Practical Shifts for Forward Momentum
Try these strategies to move from stuck to starting:
Experiment instead of committing: Pick one low-stakes direction and take a step. It's just a trial, not a contract.
Reflect inward: Can't see clear paths? Pause and look inward. Identify your core values and let them guide your decision-making.
Talk it out: Journal your thoughts and read them like someone else wrote them. Share with a friend or coach to get feedback and clarity. Say your fears out loud—they often shrink when exposed to air.
Even one of these small shifts can help break that stuck feeling and build a little bit of confidence.
You're Not Behind—You're Just Beginning
Getting started with any goal or defining a new direction is messy. Even when the goal is clear, the feelings and doubts can be loud.
But those feelings? They aren't blockades trying to stop you in your tracks. They're actually part of the process—signposts that you're stepping into something new. They're helping you explore what matters, showing up not to derail your progress but to guide your reflection. That discomfort or hesitation? It's often just your inner compass calibrating, not a red light telling you to stop.
And if you've spent decades solving problems at work, it can be especially frustrating when your own next step feels murky. Just know: You're not behind. You're just at the beginning.
Just Take One Step
The way out of feeling stuck usually isn't some grand, sweeping change. It's something much simpler: just taking one small step. Not a commitment. Not a leap. Just a tentative move that helps you experiment, gain clarity, and see a bit more of the path ahead. That first step might feel uncertain, but it's the spark that begins momentum.
You don't need to be ready. You don't need to be sure. You just need to move.
And as you do, give yourself permission to make progress without needing it to be perfect. Allow space to pivot or adjust as you learn more about what works (and what doesn't). Let your first few steps be about gathering insight, not producing results.
Still not sure what that first step could look like? Here are a few ideas:
Write down one thing you've been thinking about doing—and what's been stopping you.
Reach out to someone who's done something similar and ask about their first step.
Block 20 minutes on your calendar to brainstorm or sketch out your ideas.
Take a walk and talk your thoughts out loud—just to hear what's in your head.
Choose one article or podcast episode that might give you clarity, and listen without pressure.
This isn't about being certain. It's about being curious.
What's one small experiment you could try this week—just to see what happens?
