Feeling Stuck in Life? How to Find Clarity and Direction Before the New Year

It’s the last quarter of the year, that in-between space where we start feeling the pressure to figure out everything that hasn’t quite gone to plan. Maybe you’ve achieved a lot on paper so far… but still feel unfulfilled.

Maybe the goals that once excited you no longer light you up. Or maybe you’re just tired burnt out and running on autopilot, waiting for motivation to magically appear.

And if you’re honest, maybe you just feel stuck. Like you’re moving, but not really going anywhere that feels aligned.

Feeling stuck in life can be one of the most frustrating experiences, especially for women who are used to making things happen.

But being stuck doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

It’s often a sign you’re being called to pause, reflect, and realign.

In this article, I’ll share how to get unstuck, find clarity, and move forward with confidence... one micro-step at a time!

Evaluate Where You Are with Honesty, Not Judgment

When you feel stuck its uncomfortable and frustrating. And let’s be honest, in this 'on-demand' world we now live in we've all been trained to expect instant results.

Our first instinct is often to fix it, and do it fast. No one likes being in the void of in-between. The guilt creeps in, whispering that you should know what’s next by now.

But clarity doesn’t come through rushing or forcing a plan. It comes when you slow down long enough to listen to what’s no longer working AND trust that where you are right now isn’t failure.

If you listen close enough, it’s actually feedback. So instead, use this time for reflection and get honest about where you are right now.

Ask yourself:

• What’s working in my life? And what’s not?
• What parts of my routine, relationships, or work feel draining versus energizing?
• What do I keep saying “yes” to that no longer feels in alignment?

​Sometimes, the simple act of acknowledging what isn’t working is the very thing that unlocks awareness.

I remember sitting in this same space at the end of 2024. Deep in the void, feeling completely stuck. After moving to the USA, everything familiar had shifted. I’d already moved my business from Australia to Singapore in 2022, built momentum in that market and found my rhythm, but suddenly I was starting over again in a new country, a new market, and a building a new life (again). There were days when I questioned myself and my capability to re-launch in a new timezone. The uncertainty was heavy and I did what recovering perfectionists do best - anything to avoid the silence of “not knowing”! But, the void isn’t something to outrun. It’s actually the space where your next chapter begins. The key is finding the courage to sit with the unconfortable uncertainty long enough for your inner voice to finally be heard.

Create Space for Consistent Reflection

To find direction, you need moments of quiet to reconnect with your intuition. That means intentionally stepping away from noise, screens, other people's opinions and the endless “should's”.

Try this for one week:

• Schedule a 20-minute “mind clarity block” each day - no distractions, no phone just you and a notepad (preferably in the morning)
• Journal freely with a question like: “What do I need right now?” or “What feels out of alignment?”
• Take a mindful walk without a podcast or playlist - let your mind wander

It’s in those pockets of silence that you begin to hear the answers you’ve been too busy to notice.

​You don’t need a grand plan yet - first its all about awareness.

Set Clear, Meaningful Goals Aligned with Your Values

​When you start gaining insight, channel it into intention. Not all goals are created equal and perfectionists often chase the wrong ones.

If your goals are driven by obligation or external validation, they’ll always leave you feeling empty. If they’re driven by alignment and your core values they’ll energize you.

Ask yourself:

“What would success look like (or feel like) for me?”

Define two areas you want to shift before the new year. 1) Personal 2) Professional.
Then, break them into micro-steps:

• Instead of “change careers” start with “research one new industry”
• Instead of “get fit” start with “move my body twice a week”
• Instead of “be more confident” start with “share my idea or a concept in the next meeting”

It’s the micro-steps that help you build momentum and get unstuck.

Any goal list with more than three things becomes overwhelming and when the mind feels overloaded, it simply opts out of even the best-laid plans.

Seek Inspiration from Role Models

When you’re stuck, perspective helps. Look for people: mentors, friends, authors, or coaches who’ve navigated reinvention or realignment.

One of my favorite books for corporate women is: "Playing Big" by Tara Mohr

Notice what they did when things weren’t clear. Often, they didn’t wait for motivation; they created momentum through action.

You can do the same. Use their stories as evidence that direction is something you build, not something you find.

​You might even realize that the women you admire weren’t more certain than you. They were just willing to move forward without certainty.

Right Now Focus on the 1%

​Stop overthinking why you're stuck.

Clarity doesn’t come from thinking it comes from doing. That’s why the smallest step even the 1% you can do today to move forward often reveals the next step and the one after that.

Choose one simple action this week that aligns with the version of you you’re becoming.

• Maybe it’s sending an email you’ve been putting off
• Maybe it’s setting one small boundary
• Maybe it’s booking that coaching call you’ve been considering for months

The point isn’t perfection, it’s progress.

If you’ve felt stuck this year, and the longer this void goes on the bigger it feels like you're falling behind.

Please know that this is just the pause before the next chapter. It's not the end or the finale.

There’s a process required of peeling back layers, realigning your values, and taking one intentional step at a time to get unstuck.

So as we move through the last stretch of the year, give yourself permission to pause. Reflect, realign, and take one small, meaningful action that points you toward the career or role you want in 2026.

Because you don’t need to have it all figured out to move forward - you literally just need to start.
​
-Janel Briggs, Confidence & Mindset Coach

​P.S. If you’ve been feeling stuck or uncertain about your next step, coaching can help you find clarity, confidence, and direction again. Book a free clarity call with me and let’s uncover what’s really holding you back and map out what’s next for you in 2026.

Next Level YOU

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