
“Feeling lost, crazy and desperate belongs to a good life as much as optimism, certainty and reason.”
Alain De Botton
Like everything in life, there is an ebb and flow to our energy. Our motivation and momentum when it comes to our careers is no different. There are times when moving forward feels like an uphill battle, and other times when the spark of inspiration within us has never felt more alive.
If you've ever felt stuck or lost at work, you're not alone. This feeling can be disheartening, but it also presents an opportunity to rest, reflect, reassess, and realign with your goals and values.
By taking intentional steps, you can turn the experience of feeling lost into an opportunity to find oneself again, discovering a different path that feels more fulfilling and aligned.
"Action breeds motivation more than motivation breeds action."
James Clear
Mid-Career Malaise
Many professionals experience burnout and internal stasis, despite apparent success on the outside. In fact, both life satisfaction and job satisfaction often follow a U-shaped curve, bottoming out in midlife.
We can blame the shifting of priorities, the narrowing of options, the regret of roads not taken, and the repetitive nature of professional achievements.
In a period of self-doubt and reevaluating one's professional existence? You may be experiencing a career slump.
Some signs include:
A strong desire or change
Feeling unchallenged, unmotivated, or unfulfilled
Lack of enthusiasm to take on new challenges
Inability to focus at work
Feeling isolated or like you don't fit in
Questioning leadership and strategy
Switching from project to project but can't stay engaged
Feeling like you're no longer producing at the same level as you used to
Every leader—and every person—experiences moments when progress feels impossible. The road ahead becomes unclear, energy dwindles, and the weight of responsibility grows heavy. These "stuck" moments are a natural part of both leadership and life.
If you're feeling an overwhelming lack of motivation and it's not tied to a specific task it may be due to burnout, not laziness. Burnout strips us of the mental and emotional energy to do things. Overworking, overcommiting, overdelivering, perfectionism, neglecting self-care .
Another culprit? Simple misalignment. When we’re working on tasks that don’t resonate with us our vital energy naturally diminishes. In that case we must take the time to refocus on what genuinely energizes and fulfills us.
Remember, Feeling stuck isn’t a failure - instead, it's an invitation to go deeper.
People get stuck when they don't flow with natural cycles. When they don't let go of whatever they are clinging to that is not really helpful and needs to be recycled. It can be emotions, memories, money, material things, anger, beliefs, ignorance, regret, blame of self or others, guilt, fear, etc. Transformation happens naturally when we align and connect deeply with the present moment: with Nature, the Universe, Spirit and/or Source. Letting go of whatever our hearts and minds were holding onto.
Christopher Chase
Frozen in Fear: A Trauma Perspective
Those with PTSD or C-PTSD may experience a “paralysis of initiation” when trying to take action or self-start. This is a natural response rooted in the brain’s basic instincts. When the brain is conditioned to focus on immediate safety and survival, planning for the future or working towards goals can feel overwhelming, abstract or even threatening.
Trauma often heightens the brain’s alarm system, while reducing the function of the parts of the brain which handle decision-making and forward-thinking. This imbalance can leave survivors feeling helpless, stuck, uncertain, hesitant and avoidant. You simply stop trusting in yourself, life, or believing in the possibility of change.
Sometimes just existing is challenging enough. Because you're always waiting for the next bad thing to happen.
In our stuck places we can become frozen in fear, fear of abandonment or rejection from "the tribe" if we change course.
Reminder: It's ok to take space when you need it, especially during big transformations. Isolate yourself for inner peace. Tune in and reintroduce yourself when it's time.
Hitting the Wall: A Neurodivergent Perspective
For neurodivergent individuals, it's totally normal to experience fluctuating or inconsistent energy levels or varying degrees of focus and motivation. Some may even experience "demand avoidance", the strong feeling of resentment and resistance to requests, expectations, or other external pressures.
Losing momentum is more common for neurodivergent and multipassionate individuals due to our unique cognitive processing. We are wired to seek novelty and stimulation, making it challenging to stay engaged with repetitive or uninteresting tasks, while also grappling with executive function challenges like prioritization and task-switching.
When things feel ‘stuck,’ it’s just the universe rearranging everything to come back even stronger. Til then be patient, keep your energy clear, and trust that what’s for you will always find you.
We thrive on pursuing diverse interests but can feel overwhelmed or scattered when juggling multiple interests or evolving goals. We also may struggle with need for authentic alignment - an innate aversion to convention and linear progress. Traditional tasks or paths simply feel meaningless or constraining.
Lastly, we also carry an extreme need for freedom, sovereignty, independence, self-direction and self-agency. We desire to lead and co-create so that we can feel safe, in control and reduce sensory overwhelm and the pressure of external expectations and demands.
Please know there is nothing wrong with you. You don't need to fix yourself or manage your condition. You are not "difficult", lazy" "stubborn" "controlling" "contrarian" "oppositional", "uncooperative" "non-conforming" or "non-compliant".
You're simply DIFFERENT. You have a high need for supportive environments that reduce pressure, improve and enhance autonomy and offer choice and flexibility.
Control looks like safety for those who have never experienced freedom. A cage is freedom to an abused dog because it’s sanctuary from the pain. The dog does not know true freedom is an open field and companionship because it has never experienced it. Ask yourself today what fear has trained you to believe.
Dr. Chris Lee
Outgrowing Your Old Self
Realizing that your current role or responsibilities no longer align with your evolving interests, values, or passions can be a jolt to your psyche. As you grow personally and professionally, you might find that you’re drawn to new challenges or a different direction that ignites your curiosity and enthusiasm. This can be an exciting, nerve-wracking or even daunting transition, as it often requires letting go of old comfort zones and embracing the unknown.
Pivoting to new interests at work doesn’t mean abandoning your experience or skills; rather, it’s about adapting them to explore fresh opportunities, find greater fulfillment, and contribute to something that resonates more deeply with your evolving self. Trusting in your ability to adapt and grow can make the journey both rewarding and transformative.
Remember to listen to the subtle voices and nudges within. You may be being pulled to something bigger and better. You deserve this, You don't need to settle.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
Alan Watts
Setting the Stage for Inspired Action
Regaining momentum doesn’t require waiting passively by for a strike of clarity or willpower. Instead it often begins with taking action.
Inspired Action is any action that aligns with your deepest values, desires, and purpose. It comes from an inner place of excitement, intuition, or flow - not obligation or routine. You simply can't force productivity or creativity. Instead we must focus on creating an environment and mindset that invite flow and creativity.
Signs of inspired action: A feeling of clarity, excitement, and effortless natural flow
When reconnect with with what lights us up, when we take steps that feel intuitively right or aligned with one’s passions and interests, we can achieve more freedom and fulfillment.
"There is magic in feeling stuck. There is gold in the unsolveable dilemma. When you don't know what to do, stay there. The in-between still holds answers: where we learn our patterns, understand our fears and discover our purpose. Sit with your stuckness and listen for answers. It usually means a transformation is on its way."
Hannah Fraser Moore
Actively seeking inspired action can be empowering, as it encourages proactivity and allows you to initiate movement toward your goals.
But more often than not, waiting for inspiration to come to you can lead to more authentic, creative, or aligned actions that feel deeply connected to your true desires and values.
Key steps to waiting for inspired action:
Clearly define what you want to achieve, which helps you better identify actions that resonate with your true desires.
Engage in meditation or deep breathing exercises to quiet your mind and connect with your inner wisdom.
Exercise! Even a short walk or intense workout can help release unfocused energy, improve focus, and activate the brain by getting your blood moving.
Pay attention to how different potential actions make you feel, as positive emotions often indicate alignment.
Spend time imagining yourself achieving your goals, which can help you access a more inspired state.
Believe that the right opportunities and actions will come to you when you are ready, even if it takes time.
Don't limit yourself to pre-conceived ideas, and be receptive to unexpected opportunities that may emerge.
Resist the urge to stay still or stagnant and wait for signs. Don't rely entirely on divine guidance for validation. Don't deny your responsibilty to co-create with the Universe. You still must take some action and demonstrate courage.
Balancing both, by being open to inspiration while also taking intentional steps when it arises, often leads to a harmonious flow of progress.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working."
Pablo Picasso
Reclaiming Your Energy
Rather than forcing solutions, ruminating or overthinking, start small and simple. Often, breakthroughs emerge not from complex strategies but from reconnecting with the most basic elements of our well-being.
Getting unstuck at work involves focusing on three key areas of your life force: BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT. These foundational steps can reignite your energy and open the door to meaningful progress.
“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.”
Tune into Your Body
If you tend to overintellectualize it may feel tempting to jump right into the inner journey.
After all, the most important relationship you have is with yourself. But sometimes it's better to zoom out than in. Your physical well-being is the foundation, the cornerstone of everything else in your life.
So instead of diving into plans, solutions or strategies, prioritize your body above all. Small actions like taking a walk, meditating, getting enough rest, or choosing nutritious foods can have a ripple effect on your energy and clarity, leading to renewed momentum in unexpected ways.
Movement practices like yoga, stretching, or ecstatic dance can help release stagnation and invite clarity and focus. Similarly, emotional regulation techniques and sensory breaks such as breathwork or mindfulness practices can help manage the anxiety underlying avoidant or stagnant behaviors.
“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
Seek Inspiration in Others
The second most important tie to our energy is our relationships. During difficult times, isolation feels like a safe default, but reaching out can be transformative. Call a friend, grab coffee with a colleague, or send a long-overdue message. Talk to a colleague or friend about your feelings and frustrations. Sometimes just sharing your thoughts can lighten the load.
These small moments of connection remind us of our shared humanity and help us re-engage with life.
Connect with people who uplift and inspire you. Whether it’s a mentor, coach, colleague, friend, or family, engaging in meaningful conversations or shared activities can provide fresh perspectives, insights and ideas that shift your outlook and approach. Relationships built on trust and emotional safety are especially important as a supportive and nonjudgmental environment allows you to feel seen, understood and accepted.
You don't have to succumb to societal or family expectations. Communicating honestly and openly with loved ones to help reduce perceived pressure or judgment.
HOT TIP: Seek environments or groups where work is collaborative and nonjudgmental, such as peer support groups or career workshops. If possible, hire support (e.g., a virtual assistant) to help manage tasks and keep you on track.
You're not supposed to have all the answers, or always know the path to take. Feeling disoriented, lost or confused is a normal part of being human. Allow yourself to feel the discomfort of the unknown and experience whatever comes.
Inner Reflection
At last, take time to evaluate what’s causing your feelings of anxiety, confusion or uncertainty. Are you bored, overwhelmed, or misaligned with your organization’s values? What aspects of your work do you enjoy? What drains your energy? What genuinely excites you? What outcomes do you desire? What are your creative goals?
While it can feel uncomfortable to turn inward, this process is essential for finding clarity and authentic direction. Activities like journaling, mindmapping are invaluable opportunities to listen and hear your inner voice.
Embrace moments of uncertainty or "not knowing". They are fertile ground for inspiration to bloom.
Avoidance at work can stem from various causes, often linked to psychological, emotional, or environmental factors, - and the everyday demands of life and work.
Exhaustion or Burnout: When tasks feel too complex or there's an excessive workload, employees may procrastinate or disengage to avoid added stress. Chronic stress or burnout can heighten sensitivity to demands, with even routine tasks feeling overwhelming.
Fear of Failure: Perfectionism or fear of making mistakes can lead individuals to avoid tasks where they feel inadequately skilled or likely to fall short. Anxiety about not meeting expectations can make demands feel overwhelming, leading to avoidance to escape potential judgment or criticism. ear of not performing a task perfectly can result in procrastination or avoidance to sidestep potential disappointment or self-criticism.
Loss of Autonomy: A strong need for control or independence can make external demands feel like a threat to personal freedom, triggering resistance.
Fear of Overwhelm: The perception of tasks as too complex or burdensome can create anxiety, causing individuals to delay or avoid engaging with them.
Lack of Clarity: Ambiguity in expectations or unclear goals can create uncertainty, making people hesitant to take action.
Fear of Change: Uncertainty about outcomes, especially when tasks involve stepping into new roles or unfamiliar territory, can make demands feel threatening.
Social Anxiety: If demands involve interaction or collaboration, fear of social scrutiny or conflict may lead to avoidance behaviors.
Boredom or Lack of Interest: Monotonous or unchallenging tasks can reduce motivation and lead to avoidance behaviors.
Conflict or Toxic Work Environment: Interpersonal tensions, micromanagement, or a lack of trust can trigger avoidance as a coping mechanism.
Low Confidence or Impostor Syndrome: Doubting one's abilities may lead to avoidance, particularly for challenging or high-visibility tasks.
Trauma or Negative Experiences: Past experiences of failure, harsh criticism, or excessive pressure can create fear and anxiety, making new demands feel daunting or overwhelming.
Misalignment with Values or Goals: When work feels disconnected from personal purpose or goals, motivation can dwindle, leading to avoidance.
Addressing these underlying fears often involves lots of inner exploration and self-awareness, understanding their unique triggers, cultivating coping strategies, fostering a sense of collaboration
"Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body."
Seneca
Reconnect with Your Values & Vision
When motivation wanes, pause and reflect on your long-term goals and values. What is most important to you? What drives you?
Remind yourself WHY you do what you do, even the smallest tasks. Connecting it to your goals or values can boost your motivation. Still stuck? Review past work for inspiration, even looking back through your childhood art or old school projects.
The End Goal for all of us: Find out what you love doing and get someone to pay you for it.
Take ownership of your future by deciding the timeline, methods, or tools that work best for you. Consider freelance or gig opportunities, where you have greater flexibility and control over your workload. Seek out jobs or organizations with inclusive hiring practices that value diverse thinking styles.
Visualization can be a powerful tool to reawaken your drive and reignite your passion. Imagine every detail of your future success. Reflect on your original motivations for pursuing your career path.
"When inspiration does not come to me, I go halfway to meet it."
Sigmund Freud
Positive Affirmations
Affirmations can be a powerful tool to boost your morale and shift your perspective during challenging times like unemployment, career stagnation or low motivation. Repeating these daily, especially in moments of self-doubt, can help encourage a more hopeful outlook and more empowering frame of mind.
"Everything is working out in my favor. I was ok and will be ok after this"
"I am capable and resilient, and I will find my way through this."
"I am exactly where I am meant to be right now"
"Every challenge I face is an opportunity for growth and learning."
"I trust that the right opportunities will come to me at the right time."
"I am worthy of success and happiness, and I will not give up on my dreams."
"I embrace this time of transition as a chance to discover my true passions."
"I have the strength to overcome obstacles and the courage to keep moving forward."
"I am not defined by my current situation; I am constantly evolving and growing."
"I am surrounded by support and love, and I am never alone in my journey."
"Each day, I take small steps toward my goals, and those steps lead to big changes."
"I believe in my abilities and trust that I will find the right path for me."
"Slow, uneventful chapters are a part of life"
"I am divinely guided and supported at all times"
"I am always in the right place at the right time"
"I effortlessly attract the guidance I need"
"I trust my intuition and the universe to lead me towards my highest good"
"I open to receiving divine signs and messages"
"I feel supported and guided in every decision I make"
Affirm: I don't need to see the whole staircase. My intution and spirit guides are helping me to getto each next step.
Shift Your Space
Sometimes, a change of scenery or surroundings can inspire fresh energy and refresh your mindset. Try working in a different location or decluttering your workspace. Take your work outside, go to a cafe, or bring the outside in to your office with more plants, natural light, new furniture or a wall color change to your work environment.
HOT TIP: Shift the energy immediately with the Feng Shui cure of moving 25 things in your home.
"Hard things are hard, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth doing."
Brene Brown
Experiment & Explore
If you’re unsure of your next steps, consider experimenting with small changes or new hobbies or habits. Trying out new experiences and consuming inspiring new content can give you a sense of what excites you and what doesn’t.
Taking on a new project at work, freelancing, volunteering, or shadowing someone in a different role.
Reading work from your favorite author, poet or personal development influencer can also create a shift and illuminate something you may have previously missed in your reflections. Don't assume you need business-related or non-fiction books either. Surprisingly, the narratives of fiction or biography can also present unexpected new pathways and inspiration.
Watch documentaries, listen to podcasts or music that motivate or inspire you.
Visit a new place, even if its just a local museum, gallery or library. Do anything to break out of your routine and expose yourself to new sensory experiences to spark creativity again.
Go for a walk in nature.
Attend a workshop or class.
Talk to people with different perspectives.
In our most difficult times we have the best chance to wake up.
Elizabeth Lesser
Align with Natural Interests
Revisit old hobbies. Engage in activities, tasks or projects that resonate with your passions and align with your strengths can help harness energy. When tasks feel "easy" or intrinsically rewarding, they’re less likely to trigger avoidance behaviors so whenever possible, try to steer your career or work projects toward areas that naturally energize you.
Embrace the ebb-and-flow of inspiration and motivation and give yourself permission to rest, relax and take breaks without guilt.
Time Management Techniques
Time management techniques like Pomodoro can help reduce burnout, overwhelm and stagnation by breaking tasks into manageable, focused intervals, typically 25 minutes of work followed by short breaks. This structured approach of a work-and-rest cycle helps make tasks feel more achievable, helping maintain momentum and engagement. HOT TIP: Tackle high-priority or due tasks first to build momentum.
"Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman
Self-Acceptance & Compassion
It's ok if traditional methods, like rewards, punishments, deadlines or rigid structures or schedules don't work for you. Feeling stuck or avoidant can feel frustrating, but it’s essential to treat yourself with kindness. Celebrate small victories and recognize that progress may come in waves. Acknowledge your effort and resilience in navigating challenges that come your way.
There is a time to rest, and a time to push forward. Lean in and accept your "slow season" or "off-hours", and engage based on your current energy levels, rather than adhering to a strict schedule or societal expectations.
You weren’t stuck—you were being held in place until the energy shifted.
Sometimes simply showing up with what you have is a victory in itself. So, whether you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or simply running low on energy or motivation, know that your effort matters. Trying matters. The intention matters.
Give yourself permission to be where you are, and honor the journey. You’re doing the best you can with what you have, and that’s still something to celebrate.
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."
Winston Churchill
Spiritual Connection
Spirituality can be a powerful source of comfort, support and guidance when you're feeling stuck or lost. This is because it often provides a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in life, helping you understand your place in the world and a sense that there is something greater than yourself.
Meditation or prayer can promote inner calm and reduce feelings of anxiety and confusion. The key is to cultivate acceptance of your current situation, allowing you to let go of the need for control and embrace the journey of life.
In moments of fear, stress, and unknown, ask your departed ancestors for clarity, wisdom guidance, comfort, safety or support. They can see the short-cuts and pitfalls that you can't. You are all one, and they'll meet you wherever you are, whenever you need.
Invoke your angels and spirit guides:
"I call upon my angels, ancestors, and spirit guides—those who walk with me in love and truth.
Please show me what I need to see
Tell me what I need to hear
Teach me what I need to learn
Guide my steps, illuminate my path
Help me see with clarity and act with courage.
Please send inspiration, motivation and organization when and if I am meant to take action.
I patiently await your signs and solutions to lead me to the highest good."
These natural cycles of questioning are not something that we can ever speed up or skip over. We must simply surrender, endure them, and let them pass on their own.
Look To the Stars
As the planets move around us, occasionally we will feel their presence and pull in different ways. Some transits may cause you to question everything, throwing us into a "mid-life crisis". Rest assured, with time and patience this will past and your focus and direction will feel renewed again.
Astrology and Human Design can be a powerful tools when you're feeling stuck or stagnant in your career. The following components of your chart can offer deep insights into your unique strengths and purpose so that you can begin to take steps that align with your true nature, embrace your authentic path, and craft a career that energizes and fulfills you.
Midheaven (MC)—the point where the Sun was highest at your birth, symbolizing aspirations, public image, and career potential. Located at the cusp of the 10th house, the MC helps clarify your professional goals and align your path with your true calling.
Key aspects of your chart, such as Type, Profile, Incarnation Cross, Centers, and Definition, highlight how you work best, your role in teams, and how to navigate your life mission.
“You’ll never leave where you are until you decide where you’d rather be.”
Play & Creativity
Incorporating humor, play, and creativity into daily routines can take the pressure off and make demands feel less like obligations. Try a new creative medium or hobby. Promise yourself a small reward or treat after completing the task. Gamify the task by turning into a challenge by timing yourself and trying to improve efficiency.
"I only write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at nine o’clock every morning."
William Faulkner
Practice Discipline
While inspiration may feel spontaneous, creativity thrives when paired with consistent effort and routine, showing up and engaging in the work. Opportunities don't happen, you create them. You have the power to actively shape your future path instead of passively waiting for opportunities to come along or inspiration to strike.
Often when it feels like things are falling apart they're actually falling into place.
Reframe The Work
Rigidity and confinement can exacerbate and overwhelm. Create a balance by setting achievable goals, allowing for flexibility and adjustments, and breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
Sometimes all it takes is a little reframe to trick the mind and reduce the perceived overwhelm of an expectation, pressure or demand:
Tasks become invitations instead of obligations
Requests become questions, suggestions or collaborative ideas
Tap into intrinsic motivators, connect to personal values or passions
Divide tasks into smaller, more manageable parts.
For example:
Instead of "You need to clean your room," try, "Would you like to tidy your room before or after lunch?"
Rather than "You have to do your homework," try "Let’s see if we can find a fun way to tackle this together"
Instead of, “You must finish this report by 5 PM,” try, “How would you like to approach this project? Would it help to break this report into smaller parts and focus on one section today?”
Instead of "I have to find a job," try, "I just need to identify one potential company" or "update one section of my resume."
Instead of "I need to get a job", try "I am embarking on a process of exploration and discovery and finding opportunities that align with my strengths, interests, and values so that I can experience the joys of financial security and independence, creative fulfillment, and helping others."
"Sometimes, when you're in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted."
Christine Caine
Trust the Process
Feeling lost is often a sign that inner growth is necessary. While it’s tempting to rush toward a solution, give yourself permission to explore without immediate pressure to have all the answers. This is a journey that requires Patience.
Progress might be slow, but each step builds momentum and confidence.
When inspiration or motivation feels elusive, trust that it’s a temporary state. Often, taking even the smallest step forward can create the energy needed to keep going. Emphasize progress over perfection and celebrate small wins.
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
Steve Jobs
Wrapping It Up
It's completely normal to feel unmotivated sometimes, especially when it comes to the everyday grind at work.
Mid-career dissatisfaction may signal the need for either an external change like a new career path or daily habits, or internal shift, like adjusting perspectives and attitudes.
Feeling stuck offers the chance for reflection and, if necessary, reinvention.
By responding to slow or stagnant chapters with a balance of gentle compassion and deliberate action, we not only find our way forward but also practice authenticity and resilience. It is part of the human experience, afterall.
By reconnecting with your true self, realigning to your vision, nurturing your energy, and taking small, meaningful steps, you can find the motivation to move forward and embrace the flow of life once more, engaging with the world on YOUR terms.
With every moment, you have a choice to take action, or to not. Some actions require effort, and some do not. Some actions move us closer to our goals, and some keep us stuck where we are. Your actions dictate your entire life, so respect and value them.

Erin Ratliff is a holistic, organic growth + visibility business coach and consultant serving energy-sensitive soul-preneurs, heart-led self-starters with the mission of personal and planetary healing.
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