128 - Why Being Stuck Isn’t a Problem
Wed Feb 04 2026
What if feeling stuck offers information worth listening to?
In this episode, host Elizabeth Mintun explores the idea that stuckness is often a form of discernment. When we feel stuck, it’s usually not because we don’t care - it’s because something meaningful, complex, or emotionally layered is asking for time and attention. Rather than reacting to the discomfort of uncertainty with striving or self-pressure, this episode invites a shift toward listening and responding with curiosity.
Elizabeth also shares a folktale about the “monkey trap” to illustrate how holding too tightly - even to something valuable - can keep us stuck, and how release often comes through softening rather than force. She also shares a personal story of a real-life example of how noticing and respecting stuckness can open the door to honest movement and deeper collaboration.
Key Takeaways
Stuckness can hold valuable information about pace, grief, vulnerability, or competing valuesStriving for clarity can be a reaction to discomfort rather than a true response to what’s happeningStuckness can act as a protective brake, not a breakdownAsking relational questions (“What is this protecting?”) can be more helpful than demanding solutionsResources
Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here.
Contact Elizabeth: elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com
Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalmingground
Subscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend!
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What if feeling stuck offers information worth listening to? In this episode, host Elizabeth Mintun explores the idea that stuckness is often a form of discernment. When we feel stuck, it’s usually not because we don’t care - it’s because something meaningful, complex, or emotionally layered is asking for time and attention. Rather than reacting to the discomfort of uncertainty with striving or self-pressure, this episode invites a shift toward listening and responding with curiosity. Elizabeth also shares a folktale about the “monkey trap” to illustrate how holding too tightly - even to something valuable - can keep us stuck, and how release often comes through softening rather than force. She also shares a personal story of a real-life example of how noticing and respecting stuckness can open the door to honest movement and deeper collaboration. Key Takeaways Stuckness can hold valuable information about pace, grief, vulnerability, or competing valuesStriving for clarity can be a reaction to discomfort rather than a true response to what’s happeningStuckness can act as a protective brake, not a breakdownAsking relational questions (“What is this protecting?”) can be more helpful than demanding solutionsResources Learn more about 1:1 Coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here. Contact Elizabeth: elizabethmintun@thecalmingground.com Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalmingground Subscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend!