Fed up with feeling stuck?

Are You Stuck? The Hidden Comfort in Being Stuck And How To Break Free

Hey, let’s be honest for a minute...
Have you ever felt like you’re completely stuck? Like you know what you want, or at least what you should be doing, but for some reason, you just can’t seem to get started? Maybe there’s a little voice inside your head whispering, "Not today… tomorrow." It’s frustrating, and yet, somehow, we stay stuck anyway

Here’s the truth: sometimes, we cling to being stuck because it’s easier than change. It sounds odd, right? You’d think we’d want to escape feeling trapped, but there’s a hidden level of comfort in it. When we’re stuck, we don’t have to face the unknown. We don’t risk failure, judgment, or discomfort. It’s safe.

This is where the concept of secondary gain comes in. Even when our behavior seems unhealthy or unproductive, there’s a part of us that benefits from it. Being stuck can serve a purpose—it allows us to avoid something. Whether it’s fear of failure, fear of success, or just the fear of change, being stuck keeps us in our comfort zone.

The Intention-Action Gap: Why Knowing Isn’t Enough

Now, even if we know we’re stuck, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re ready to change. This is where we hit what’s called the intention-action gap—the space between knowing what we should do and actually doing it. It’s like standing on the edge of a diving board, knowing you want to jump, but feeling too paralyzed to take the leap.

Sound familiar?

What you really want is, wanting something and taking action toward it are two very different things. The intention is there, but the action is missing, and that gap can feel like a bottomless pit.

What to do? Shrink the Gap: Small Wins, Big Progress

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a goal or task, you’re not alone. One of the biggest reasons we stay stuck is because we set the bar so high that it feels impossible to reach. That’s why I want to introduce you to a different approach—taking tiny actions that make it impossible not to succeed.

Let’s call these mini commitments—ridiculously small steps that feel almost too easy. You want to get into the habit of working out? Don’t aim for an hour at the gym. Commit to putting on your workout clothes. That’s it. You don’t even have to leave the house.

The key here is that once you’ve done the small thing, it’s so much easier to move forward. The hardest part is always starting, and mini commitments take the pressure off that first step.

Feeling stuck is a normal part of life, but it doesn’t have to last forever. By recognizing the hidden comfort in being stuck and shrinking the intention-action gap with tiny, doable steps, you can start moving forward again. It’s not about making massive leaps overnight—it’s about consistent, small actions that build momentum and confidence over time.

Join the Conversation:

Comment below: What’s one small step you’re committing to today to get unstuck?

Listen in: Download the latest episode of my podcast "Unstuck" with me Ethan Grant, where I dive deeper into the concept of secondary gain and how mini commitments can transform your life.

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Here’s to making progress, one mini commitment at a time.

Wishing you momentum and clarity,
Ethan Grant