Finding Clarity and Getting Unstuck
Over the last ten years, I have been on a mission to understand how people move from confusion, fogginess, and doubt to clarity and confidence. This quest was personal—because a decade ago, I found myself stuck in a frustrating, exhausting, and demoralizing fog of uncertainty.
I was going through a major career and life transition, and despite my accomplishments, I struggled to see what was next. I felt like I should have had it all figured out. But I didn’t. And that was tough.
Since then, I have invested hundreds of hours researching, reading, attending workshops, and working with clients who feel stuck—so I can help them gain clarity with greater ease than I did. What I’ve learned is that three key insights help people move from confusion and doubt to clarity and confidence:
Photo credit: Patrick Fore at Unsplash
1. Understanding the Signals of Clarity
Clarity isn’t just a thought—it’s something we feel. Our mind, body, and heart provide signals when we are clear about a situation, a relationship, or a decision. Have you ever made a choice and felt a deep sense of relief? Or known, in your gut, that something was right (or wrong) for you? Those are clarity signals. Learning to recognize and trust them is essential.
2. Knowing the Difference Between Clarity and Certainty
Many people believe they need more clarity when, in reality, they are searching for certainty. Clarity is about understanding what feels aligned and true for you. Certainty, on the other hand, is the absolute guarantee of an outcome—which we almost never get in life. When we confuse clarity with certainty, we can stay stuck, waiting for answers that will never fully come.
3. Taking Action to Create Clarity
This last point is the hardest for many of us. We assume that if we just think long and hard enough, clarity will come. While evaluation and reflection are valuable, clarity often arrives through action. We feel stuck because we’re waiting to be clear before moving forward, but paradoxically, movement is what brings clarity.
It’s a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma:
"I would move forward if I were clear about how to move."
But the truth is:
"To get clear about how to move, I have to take a step forward."
This was one of the biggest mindset shifts I had to make—and I’ve seen countless others struggle with it too. I often remind my clients that they are already spending hours every week thinking, ruminating, and trying to figure things out on their own. The difference is, when we work together, they learn how to make that thinking productive—so they can move forward with clarity rather than staying stuck in the same cycle of uncertainty.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling lost, remember this:
Clarity is something you can cultivate by listening to your mind, body, and heart.
You don’t need certainty to move forward—only a sense of what feels aligned.
Action creates clarity. Even small steps can open up new paths.
The process of getting unstuck isn’t always easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re ready to stop spinning in circles and start moving forward with clarity and confidence, I’d love to help.
Schedule a complimentary Your Next Chapter: Gaining Clarity in Mid-Late Career now.