How to Get Unstuck

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” – Buckminster Fuller

What if the problem isn’t that you’re not trying hard enough, but instead that you’re striving toward an unsustainable goal or asking the wrong question?

As Buckminster Fuller poignantly explained, sometimes moving through challenges requires reevaluating whether the framework informing that challenge makes sense in the first place. Here’s an example:

Say you’re trying to exercise more because you’re conscious of your body image and feel too overweight, or are afraid for your health if you don’t. With your mind focused on shame and fear, exercise is a giant chore. Over time, and with a lot of effort, it feels like you’re not getting anywhere.

But what if you took a step back to reconsider your motivation? You may know somewhere deep inside yourself that exercise is good for you. Ask yourself why and don’t listen to the answers that everyone else tells you. Some answers may include that exercise helps make your body more comfortable, your daily tasks more smooth, your mind feel more relaxed throughout the day, or that it can be genuinely fun. Notice how these attributes of healthy movement don’t involve body image.

And so instead of choosing movement because you don’t feel good enough, you can “build a new model,” choosing instead to feel motivated to bring more comfort and stability to your body, and more joy to your life. The amazing thing is that the task to achieve that goal doesn’t need to change at all. But maybe instead of going to the weight room to get the quickest exercise possible, you opt for a fun game of pickleball.

This is but one example of the many ways you can rethink your choices, motivations, and behaviors to your benefit, and maybe get unstuck in the process.