Why You Feel Stuck (And What It’s Really Asking For)
- Miroslava Tomasko
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
Introduction
Not all stillness is the same. Some stillness is sacred. And some stillness is stuck.
After last week’s reflection on the sacred pause—the rest we’re often afraid to take—I wanted to explore something that often gets confused with it: stuckness.
We live in a culture that rushes everything. So even our rest can feel suspicious.
But there’s a difference between the pause that restores you… and the kind of stillness that leaves you feeling more and more disconnected.
This post is here to help you tell the difference—and to offer a quiet way forward.
The Sacred Pause: What It Feels Like
The sacred pause isn’t passive. It’s alive, in its own way.
It’s a moment when life says: not yet. Not forward. Not out there.
Even if it feels tender or raw, there’s a sense of inner coherence.
A subtle knowing that something is gestating inside you.
Sacred pause sounds like:
"Something is shifting, but I can’t quite name it."
"I don’t feel ready yet—and I trust that."
"I’m not moving, but I’m not lost."
It can feel slow, unproductive, even emotionally still.
But it never feels like self-betrayal.
There’s softness in it.
Even in the unknown.
Stuckness: What It Feels Like
Stuckness doesn’t feel like space.
It feels like pressure.
Like you’re pressing the accelerator and the brakes at the same time.
Like your mind is pushing, but your body isn’t following.
Stuckness sounds like:
"I don’t know where to start."
"I should be doing something."
"Why can’t I just get going?"
It’s not stillness. It’s system friction.
A loss of coherence. A feeling of disconnection—from your body, from desire, from clarity.
But What If It’s Just Fear?
Maybe you’re wondering: What if I’m not really in a sacred pause? What if I’m just avoiding something?
That’s an honest and necessary question.
Here’s something that helps:
Fear shrinks your body. The sacred pause opens it.
Fear tightens. It curls inward.
The sacred pause might feel tender—but there’s space in it. Room to breathe. Room to listen.
Ask yourself:
Does this feel aligned—or avoidant?
Am I pretending I’m resting… or am I really listening?
You’ll feel the difference in your breath. In your chest. In your honesty.
Why We Get Stuck
We don’t get stuck because we’re broken. We get stuck because something inside us needs care.
Here are a few of the deeper reasons why stuckness shows up:
1. Energetic Overload
You’ve pushed too long. Your system’s capacity is tapped out. You’re not lazy—you’re overextended. Your body is protecting you by halting motion.
2. Inner Conflict
One part of you wants change. Another part doesn’t feel safe. The result? Paralysis. Until all parts are heard, movement feels impossible.
3. Disconnection from Desire
You’re chasing a goal that doesn’t belong to you anymore. You’re performing instead of aligning. Stuckness is your soul’s way of saying: "not this."
4. Subconscious Loyalty You’re loyal to an old identity. An outdated role. A relationship or story you haven’t fully released. And part of you is afraid that moving forward means leaving something—or someone—behind.
The Turning Point: How to Begin Again
You don’t need a master plan.
You don’t need more motivation.
You need honesty.
1. Name what’s real.
Say it to yourself. Say it out loud. The truth unclenches the system.
2. Come back to your body.
Not to push it into motion, but to feel where you are. Let your breath return. Let your senses speak.
3. Shift the smallest thing.
Pour water. Stand up. Write the first sentence. Make the call. Something true, not performative.
4. Let movement mean presence.
You don’t have to make progress. You just have to come back into coherence. And the next right step will rise.
Want to go deeper?
If nothing is moving, maybe it's not time to push. Maybe it's time to listen.
The reflection card for this post is called "WHEN NOTHING MOVES" and offers a space to do exactly that. You can find it waiting for you now.
Just one question. One truth. One quiet beginning.
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