Have you ever found yourself stuck in a tough situation?

Maybe you were in the middle of telling a story and suddenly forgot what you were going to say.

Or maybe you were trying to figure out a math problem and had no idea what to do next.

Getting stuck happens to all of us, and let me tell you, it can feel pretty scary!

My Very Recent Experience of Getting Stuck

Last week, I gave a speech in Nashville in front of my peers.

There were a lot of people there that I knew. And I was excited to share my thoughts with them.

I had decided to share a very personal story, and I had memorized everything perfectly.

Or at least I thought I had.

After I finished my personal story, something unexpected happened.

My mind went blank. Completely blank.

I couldn’t remember what to say next.

This had never happened to me before in a speech.

There I was, standing in front of all those people, smiling but totally frozen.

I just kept thinking to myself, “Okay, what do I do next?”

For 20 long seconds, my brain refused to help me.

All I could do was smile and wait.

And let me tell you, 20 seconds can feel like forever when you’re stuck!

But guess what?

Eventually, the words came back to me.

Getting Stuck Is Not the End of the World

Slowly, I remembered what I wanted to say, and the words started coming out of my mouth once more.

And here’s the best part—it all worked out!

Everything was fine, and I kept going. I told a lot of funny stories, and it ended up being a really good speech.

I got a standing ovation, and they even gave me a trophy.

Can you believe that?

Even though I got stuck, everything turned out okay.

That moment taught me an important lesson: it’s okay to get stuck.

It happens to everyone.

What matters most is how we handle it.

When we’re stuck, it can feel like the end of the world, but it’s not.

There are things we can do to help ourselves get through it.

Let’s talk about some of those things.

Let Go of Perfection

When life’s challenges come, we put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect.

Even in the chaos, we want everything to be just right.

But when that doesn’t happen, how do we walk away being okay with the outcome?

We have to remember that no one is perfect.

We are all human. Everyone makes mistakes. And we all have bumps in our road.

But if you let the bumps in the road take over your whole thought process, it will be impossible to move forward.

I see this so often with the women who I work with.

It is such a struggle for them because they are so focused on having everything “perfect” that if it isn’t perfect, they don’t know what to do.

The answer begins with understanding that none of us are perfect.

We all struggle because that’s what it means to be human.

Stay Calm and Smile

When I got stuck during my speech, the first thing I did was smile.

Smiling helped me stay calm.

If I had started panicking, it would have been harder to think clearly.

When you’re stuck, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s okay.

Tell a little joke and have a little more fun with what you’re doing.

Smiling can make you feel calmer and help you think more clearly.

It’s like giving yourself a little boost of courage.

Take a Deep Breath

As I stood there with my mind reaching for words that weren’t coming, I took a deep breath.

Then I thought to myself, “Okay, I’ll just make something up if the words don’t come to me.”

So I made some of it up, and then the rest of it came to me.

When we’re stuck, our brains can feel like they’re in a traffic jam.

Everything is all jumbled up, and nothing seems to move.

Taking a deep breath is like clearing the road.

It helps calm our minds and gives us a moment to reset.

The next time you find yourself stuck, try this: breathe in slowly for three seconds, then breathe out slowly for three seconds.

It’s a small trick, but it can make a big difference.

Ask for Help

Sometimes, when we’re stuck, the best thing we can do is ask someone for help.

Maybe you’re stuck on a homework problem or trying to figure out how to fix something.

Asking a friend, teacher, or family member can give you a fresh perspective.

Remember, asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak.

It means you’re smart enough to know when you need a little support.

Take a Step Back

Have you ever been working on something so hard that your brain feels tired?

Sometimes, the best way to get unstuck is to take a break.

Step away from what you’re doing for a few minutes.

Go for a walk, listen to some music, or do something fun.

When you come back, you might find that your brain has figured out the problem while you weren’t even thinking about it.

Talk to Yourself in a Positive Way

When I was stuck on stage, I kept telling myself, “You can do this. It’s okay. The words will come.”

Talking to yourself in a kind way can make a big difference.

Instead of saying, “I’ll never figure this out,” try saying, “I’ll figure this out eventually. I just need a little time.”

Encouraging yourself can help you feel more confident.

Visualize Where You Want to Be

Getting unstuck can be as simple as visualizing where you want to be.

Ask yourself, “Where am I going with this, and where do I want to be?”

As I stood on that stage, I asked myself these questions:

Where am I going?

Where am I supposed to be?

And where do I want to be?

In the time it took for me to ask myself those questions, I was able to get back to where I wanted to be.

I could have ended my entire speech right there.

I could have just thrown my hands up in the air and said, “You know what, I can’t remember what I’m saying, and I’m done.”

But I didn’t.

Instead, I visualized where I wanted to be at the end, and I found a way to get there.

Break It Down

Sometimes, we feel stuck because we’re trying to do too much at once.

If you’re stuck on a big project or problem, try breaking it into smaller pieces.

For example, if you’re writing a report and don’t know where to start, just focus on writing one sentence.

Then another.

Step by step, you’ll get there.

Learn from the Experience

Every time we get stuck, we have a chance to learn something new.

Maybe you’ll learn a new way to solve a problem or discover that you’re stronger than you thought.

The next time you’re stuck, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?”

That way, even being stuck can turn into something positive.

Be Patient with Yourself

Getting unstuck takes time.

Sometimes, the answer doesn’t come right away, and that’s okay.

Be kind to yourself, and remember that it’s normal to struggle sometimes.

Think about all the times you’ve been stuck before.

Didn’t you eventually figure it out?

You can do it again.

Celebrate When You Figure It Out

When I finished my speech, I felt so proud of myself.

Even though I got stuck, I kept going, and it turned out great.

When you figure something out, no matter how small it seems, take a moment to celebrate.

Tell yourself, “I did it!”

You deserve to feel proud.

Remember That It’s Okay to Be Stuck

Finally, remember that getting stuck isn’t a bad thing. It’s just part of life.

Everyone gets stuck sometimes, even the people you would never expect.

What matters is that we don’t give up.

When we keep trying, we grow stronger and more confident.

And the next time we’re stuck, we’ll know exactly what to do.

Getting stuck can feel scary, but it’s also a chance to learn and grow.

Whether it’s forgetting a speech, solving a tricky problem, or figuring out what to do next, we all have the power to keep going.

So the next time you feel stuck, take a deep breath, smile, and visualize where it is you want to be.

Remind yourself: “I can do this.”

Because you can.

And just like my speech, everything will work out in the end.