3 Mental Habits Keeping You Stuck (And How to Break Them)
- Ryan Stoddart
- Oct 1
- 2 min read
YouAre Not Stuck, Your Mind Keeps You There
You want to move forward. You have goals, ideas, and a vision for something better.
So why does it feel like you’re standing still?
The truth is, you are not stuck because you lack motivation or ability. Your stuck because of the mental habits running in the background, keeping you in the same patterns, day after day.
Here are three of the biggest mental habits that hold people back, along with what to do instead.
Mental Habit #1: Perfectionism (Overthinking Disguised as High Standards)
You tell yourself you want to do things right. That you need more time, more information, or more certainty before you start.
But perfectionism isn’t about quality; it is about fear of making the wrong move. And that fear keeps you in a cycle of hesitation and inaction.
What to Do Instead:
Shift from perfect execution to rapid implementation. Instead of asking, “Is this the perfect move?” start asking, “What’s the next move?” Progress beats perfection every time.
Mental Habit #2: Avoidance (The Subtle Art of Staying Comfortable)
You have things you know you should be doing, but somehow, you always end up doing something else.
Avoidance is not always obvious. It looks like:
Choosing low-effort tasks instead of tackling the real challenge
Getting “too busy” to take action on what matters
Delaying hard conversations, big decisions, or uncomfortable steps
Avoidance keeps you safe. But it also keeps you exactly where you are.
What to Do Instead:
When you notice yourself avoiding something, take the smallest possible action toward it. Action eliminates resistance, and even the tiniest step forward breaks the habit of avoidance.
Mental Habit #3: Reactive Thinking (Letting Life Call the Shots)
Your handling what is in front of you. Responding to what is urgent. Keeping up with demands.
But here is the problem: Reactive thinking means you are always responding, never leading. Instead of setting the direction, you’re constantly adjusting to whatever happens next.
What to Do Instead:
Shift from reaction mode to intentional mode. Instead of asking, “What do I need to deal with today?” start asking, “What do I want to create?” When you train your mind to focus on what matters most, you stop running in circles and start leading your direction.
The Bottom Line: Train Your Mind, Change Your Results
Your mind is either working for you or against you. It is either keeping you in the same patterns or helping you create new ones that move you forward.
Training it to perform at its best is a game-changer, and I can show you how.
