If you've ever felt trapped in a bad situation for a long stretch of time, you know your emotions can run away from you and feel impossible to control.
There's a saying that goes like this,
"You can't think your way into right action, but you can act your way into right thinking."
It's called "Choice Theory." It states that while humans don't have direct control over their feelings, they do have control over their actions. Let's take the case of Jillian. She was completely stuck in her career. She was exhausted. She felt defeated. And, every day on her drive to the office she said she would dream about more meaningful work.
But...one day after years of suffering in a job she loathed, Jillian took one small action. She texted a friend whose father works in a very field she daydreamed about. Within minutes, he agreed to an appointment later that week to talk about the calling she had on her heart.
Suddenly, positive thoughts started darting through Jillian's head. She felt lighter. She felt more hopeful. Her blood pressure took a dip and her breathing became easier. She said it was like a recalibration of her mind. All from one action.
So where do you feel stuck?
Think of one action you can take — big or small. Then...be prepared. You may just cause a chain reaction that transforms your feelings, your physiology and even your outlook.