3 Ways to Get Unstuck

Even when you know exactly what you want, it's easy to feel stuck, as if there’s no clear path to get there. It’s like knowing your destination but finding the highway closed, leaving you feeling lost. But there could be other routes—a different highway, a small road, a walking or biking trail. You could take a train, fly, or even sail, depending on the journey.

So, how do you uncover these creative routes to reach your dream?

The Secret to Creativity: Connecting Unlikely Dots

Creativity is about making connections between parts of your brain that usually don’t communicate. When you think about something frequently, the neural pathways associated with that thought become stronger. Conversely, thoughts you seldom entertain weaken, and their connections may even fade away. Your brain becomes efficient at familiar ideas but neglects lesser-used pathways. This can make you efficient in what you do regularly, but it can also stifle creativity. So, how do you reignite those less-traveled pathways and spark new connections?

1. Expose Yourself to the Unfamiliar

A common piece of advice is to expose yourself to new experiences—it’s about generating more diverse thoughts that your brain can connect. You can create these new thoughts by reading books outside your usual genres, meeting people with different backgrounds, or visiting places you’ve never been. This is why many people return from trips to new places feeling refreshed and full of new ideas. However, the downside is that you can’t always control when these “aha” moments will occur. So, how can you intentionally cultivate more serendipity?

2. Intentionally Engage with the Unfamiliar

One key to generating creative ideas for your challenges is to bring intention into expose yourself to the unfamiliar. Make everyday encounters less familiar by observing them as deeply and in as much detail as possible. For example, seeing two people chatting over a cup of coffee might seem ordinary. But if you closely observe their appearance, body language, energy, and how they communicate, the situation can become more intriguing and unfamiliar.

For instance, I once overheard a child ask another, "Do you like this?" It struck me that I didn’t actually know what my stakeholders liked; I was simply assuming. This realization prompted me to directly ask them what they wanted, which led to a solution that took a different, more effective direction.

By broadening your focus beyond the usual suspects, you can break free from your own assumptions and think more creatively.

3. Create Unfamiliar Connections

To go even deeper, push yourself to connect your goal with something seemingly unrelated. This can be a powerful way to spark creativity. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Involve one or two people to brainstorm with you; different perspectives add more value.
2. Choose a random word or theme you rarely consider—like "astronaut."
3. Brainstorm how this theme could influence your idea. For instance, astronauts rely on checklists for every procedure. Perhaps you could create a checklist for your team to align everyone on what's important.

The aim here is to force your brain to make new connections. Ask your kids what's cool—they might say robots, dinosaurs, or fairies. Think about places you’ve never been, like the North Pole, or events you’ve never attended, like a fashion show. These random associations help your brain break free from its usual patterns, making room for creative thinking.

Conclusion: Ignite Your Creative Journey

Creativity isn’t just for artists or entrepreneurs—it’s a crucial skill for anyone looking to innovate, solve complex problems, or move beyond feeling stuck. The more you practice these methods, the more adept you become at connecting unlikely dots and finding new paths forward. Working with a diverse group can further enrich this process, bringing fresh perspectives and sparking more ideas.

Many of my clients initially felt stuck, believing there was no way forward. But they were often surprised by the innovative ideas that emerged when we used these techniques. If you're ready to explore new paths and want some guidance along the way, let's collaborate and make those creative breakthroughs happen faster.