Adam Alter

And then all the good stuff that's underneath, that's a couple of layers below, is then free to emerge. But you have to go through that process first of pouring out all the bad stuff, all the stuff that's not particularly interesting.

And then all the good stuff that's underneath, that's a couple of layers below, is then free to emerge. But you have to go through that process first of pouring out all the bad stuff, all the stuff that's not particularly interesting.

And then all the good stuff that's underneath, that's a couple of layers below, is then free to emerge. But you have to go through that process first of pouring out all the bad stuff, all the stuff that's not particularly interesting.

I think that's right. I think one of the most profound insights about stuckness is that every single person is in at least one respect stuck. It doesn't take most people very long to think of an instance or an area of their lives in which they feel a little bit stuck, at least a little bit stuck. I ran a survey that I had mentioned on hundreds and hundreds of people around the world, and

I think that's right. I think one of the most profound insights about stuckness is that every single person is in at least one respect stuck. It doesn't take most people very long to think of an instance or an area of their lives in which they feel a little bit stuck, at least a little bit stuck. I ran a survey that I had mentioned on hundreds and hundreds of people around the world, and

I think that's right. I think one of the most profound insights about stuckness is that every single person is in at least one respect stuck. It doesn't take most people very long to think of an instance or an area of their lives in which they feel a little bit stuck, at least a little bit stuck. I ran a survey that I had mentioned on hundreds and hundreds of people around the world, and

Within about 10 seconds, almost all of them could come up with an area of their lives in which they felt to some extent stuck. And what's really interesting about being stuck is that it also feels lonely, despite the fact that it's this universal human experience. And that loneliness, that sense that you're alone in that process is very isolating.

Within about 10 seconds, almost all of them could come up with an area of their lives in which they felt to some extent stuck. And what's really interesting about being stuck is that it also feels lonely, despite the fact that it's this universal human experience. And that loneliness, that sense that you're alone in that process is very isolating.

Within about 10 seconds, almost all of them could come up with an area of their lives in which they felt to some extent stuck. And what's really interesting about being stuck is that it also feels lonely, despite the fact that it's this universal human experience. And that loneliness, that sense that you're alone in that process is very isolating.

And so you have this weird paradox where people say, I'm stuck. Everyone else says they're stuck, but we all feel isolated in that process. But I think you're right. I think stuckness is absolutely inevitable.

And so you have this weird paradox where people say, I'm stuck. Everyone else says they're stuck, but we all feel isolated in that process. But I think you're right. I think stuckness is absolutely inevitable.

And so you have this weird paradox where people say, I'm stuck. Everyone else says they're stuck, but we all feel isolated in that process. But I think you're right. I think stuckness is absolutely inevitable.

Yeah, I think that's a really profound and important insight that... Well, thank you. Yeah, sure. So when you're subjectively stuck, that doesn't mean you're stuck in a sense that requires activation or action or anything in particular. It might just require just resting with that stuckness. That's part of what I meant by the psychological response of feeling like you have to do something.

Yeah, I think that's a really profound and important insight that... Well, thank you. Yeah, sure. So when you're subjectively stuck, that doesn't mean you're stuck in a sense that requires activation or action or anything in particular. It might just require just resting with that stuckness. That's part of what I meant by the psychological response of feeling like you have to do something.

Yeah, I think that's a really profound and important insight that... Well, thank you. Yeah, sure. So when you're subjectively stuck, that doesn't mean you're stuck in a sense that requires activation or action or anything in particular. It might just require just resting with that stuckness. That's part of what I meant by the psychological response of feeling like you have to do something.

It's really important to pause. And part of that process of pausing and taking a beat is to say... do I need to act? And if I do, in which direction should that action be pointed? And very often the answer is no, you don't need to act. You can sit with that for a little while, as uncomfortable as it may be, and it might resolve itself. And if it doesn't, then you've given it a bit more time

It's really important to pause. And part of that process of pausing and taking a beat is to say... do I need to act? And if I do, in which direction should that action be pointed? And very often the answer is no, you don't need to act. You can sit with that for a little while, as uncomfortable as it may be, and it might resolve itself. And if it doesn't, then you've given it a bit more time

It's really important to pause. And part of that process of pausing and taking a beat is to say... do I need to act? And if I do, in which direction should that action be pointed? And very often the answer is no, you don't need to act. You can sit with that for a little while, as uncomfortable as it may be, and it might resolve itself. And if it doesn't, then you've given it a bit more time

you probably learn something more about that experience of stuckness from that time, which will make you more effective in dealing with it later on. So I think that pause, that beat at the beginning before you do anything is really, really critical in marshalling your resources in a productive direction.

you probably learn something more about that experience of stuckness from that time, which will make you more effective in dealing with it later on. So I think that pause, that beat at the beginning before you do anything is really, really critical in marshalling your resources in a productive direction.