Happy New Year. There is something refreshing about new beginnings and fresh starts. It’s why new year’s resolutions are still a thing. It’s a popular topic of conversation each year this time.

Bah, Humbug!
But what if you aren’t feeling it? What if the “new beginning” feels like the same as before? What if you see it as another spin on the same merry go round? No amount of setting goals, positive attitude or potato chips will help in overcoming feeling stuck.

Since being stuck seems to be associated with your circumstances, your likely first reaction is to get out of the situation. You start making a case to explain why you’re in a funk by culling together all the dissatisfactions, irritations, slights and anything else that explains your condition. After a while, you conclude that the only answer is to remove yourself from the situation. “This isn’t working for me so I’m outta here.”

Learn the Lesson
While that may eventually be the solution, it should never be the first option, but the last option. It is unfortunate if you will leave before you have the opportunity to develop the muscle of perseverance—the ability to stay with something in the midst of feeling stuck.

Angela Duckworth’s research and book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, describes grit as the determining factor of success, not IQ, talent, luck or a rich uncle. Most of my coaching clients have encountered the difficult times that made them wonder if they are in the right place or on the right track or with the right people. Most often, they were experiencing the questioning that arises when the hard work of persevering becomes daunting.

I highly recommend Dr. Duckworth’s book, as well as her TED Talk. It may be just the thing you need to get you through the season of stuck.