Matthew Laker

Keith Yamashita, in his book “Unstuck” shares 7  reason why individuals and organizations feel stuck.

I first read about these reason in Gary Collins book, “Christian Coaching, Second Edition: Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality (Walking with God) .”  What I like about the list is just that it is a list.  It becomes a tool to help an individual or organization who already knows they are stuck to put words to it.  

Let me give you the list and then provide some reflection questions at the end. 

7 reasons why people get stuck:

Overwhelmed: This involves a feeling that there is too much work, too much scrutiny, or too little time, energy, or people to get everything done. When the tasks ahead feel huge, there is procrastination and uncertainty about where to begin.

Exhausted: Tired people lack energy. They tend to lose vision, purpose, and enthusiasm. Team camaraderie fades. Patience is in short supply. Conflicts and criticism are more in evidence. Everything stalls.

Directionless: Everyone may be busy and working through to-do lists, but sometimes there is no vision or big picture of the future. Team members have no common goal, so each works independently and progress is limited.

Hopeless: When there is no sense of achievement (often because there is no clear purpose), the motivation to keep working dries up, successes become fewer and the effort does not seem worthwhile.

Surrounded by conflict: It is difficult to keep moving forward in the midst of disagreements, communication breakdowns, misunderstandings, and gossip. This is like a dysfunctional family trying to plan a wedding or family reunion.

Worthless: Motivation and progress stall when individuals or team members feel unappreciated, overlooked, unrewarded, or unacknowledged.

Alone: This is a feeling of isolation that may come to a whole team, company, or church. Each individual works independently with no sense of belonging, identity, team spirit, or camaraderie. Often this comes because there is no visionary leader who unites people into a common purpose.

My Observations about the list:

• There is a big connection between our emotions and feeling stuck and getting unstuck.  
• Your mindset acts like a rudder in your life.
• The need for creating a life plan can be a great asset. .
• There is a need for personal/organizational systems and the understanding of who you are and where you are going to get unstuck.
• Lack of community can lead to the reasons or at least feed them. 
• Someone who is stuck has a higher reality of not taking time for personal reflection and stillness.  
• The Jesus follower is not centering oneself on Jesus.

Reflection Questions:

1. Which one of those seven is where you are at?

2. What are you not believing about Jesus right now?

3. What are you not believing about yourself as Jesus see you?

4. From the position of the reason you’re stuck. What false image of your self are you trying to hold up?

5. What are two-three options to step out of the mud and walk away?  Who could help you step out?