You’re Not Stuck, Your Mission Just Got Bigger

I’m going to say something that might surprise you: maybe you're not stuck. It could be that your mission just got bigger. ​

Are you feeling tired because you're overthinking? 

Are you unsure if this is where you should be? 

Maybe you're feeling off, overwhelmed, or frustrated. You don’t know what to do or where to focus. 

Ah, I've been there. 

You may think, “But Diane, you’ve got all this stuff going on and so many great things happening. How can you feel stuck?” 

Well, I felt stuck and I’ve been seeing it in my clients too. If you haven’t been following along with the blogs, here are some of the topics I’ve covered because you might want to go back and read them: 

• I’ve Outgrown That Old Version of Me
• Kill Off Your Alter Ego Like Eminem Killed Off Slim Shady
• Break Free from the Chains of Your Old Self 
• Step into Who You’re Meant to Be

And now, this blog is about how you're not stuck; your mission just got bigger.

If you've been reading my blogs, you might think, “Yeah, it’s because there’s this old part of me, and I’m stuck.” Maybe you have, been relating, but even if you haven’t, no matter what, it could be that you feel stuck and that something's wrong. That’s how I was feeling. Why was I not motivated? Why was I not inspired?

Well, one piece of it was that I needed to step into a bigger mission. I needed to let go of some older versions of myself. 

The same could be true for you - maybe your mission just got bigger. The old part of you was doing something that was part of a smaller plan—a less impactful plan, a less influential plan. But now, the plan is bigger, and you have more to do. Not more on your to-do list, necessarily, but more impact to make.

How exciting is that? 

Because feeling stuck often signals to us that something's wrong, that we are wrong, and that we need to fix or change things. But actually, it’s an opportunity for growth. It’s an opportunity for a shift in not only who you are, but also your mission—your vision, and your values.

Turn your perceived obstacle of feeling stuck into a catalyst for expanding your purpose, mission, and legacy—what you're here to do on earth. This could be professional or in your personal life. You can change from feeling stuck to a catalyst, and it all comes from that one perspective shift from "I'm stuck" to "My mission just got bigger." That gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

I will review a few things to help you think deeper, and we’ll see where we end up. 

Your emotions and thoughts

When you're feeling a little stuck, what kind of emotions or thoughts do you have? 

Frustration, confusion, or a lack of direction? I was in all those feelings—no motivation, lack of inspiration, not wanting to do anything, no energy, void of energy. A lot of dissonance, and friction was happening. These feelings are often a natural part of the growth process.

Think about weight training. If you’re lifting some small weights, it will be pretty easy. Then, when you increase the weight, you’ll start getting frustrated. It will be hard, and you’ll think, “I can’t do it like I did before.”  But the thing is, you’re growing and getting better, and eventually, you will be able to do it. 

These feelings are not a sign of failure. It's just a natural part of the growth process.

If you're able to do things easily and you're always in a good place, it might mean you're not challenging yourself enough or not growing enough. Put on that growth mindset and know that this is just normal.

How to recognize that bigger mission

Let's reframe the situation. I encourage you to view the feeling of being stuck as just an indicator: “Ah, I’ve outgrown my current mission.” The original scope has now been broadened—maybe the impact or the reach has been expanded. Reframing this experience can help you identify new opportunities and new areas for that expansion. 

You could ask yourself, “Okay, what's changed? How is my mission bigger? How is the result going to be bigger? How is my reach going to be bigger?”

You might wonder, “Is this really a bigger mission, or is this me hitting an obstacle, like a true obstacle that I need support with?” 

Here’s how you can recognize that bigger mission. 

If your bigger mission is evolving, you'll see that your current mission is not as fulfilling anymore. Maybe parts of it aren't fulfilling, or you’re facing new challenges that weigh you down.

Instead, I encourage you to consider areas where you’ve developed new skills and passions that could reshape the mission. 

For example, I took a stand-up comedy class about two years ago. Now, I’m thinking about how to bring comedy, into my talks, workshops, and coaching. When I thought about incorporating these new skills, it led me to the idea of a one-woman show, which is really exciting. I see how that small shift in the mission will lead to greater impact and fulfillment for me because I can now bring in a bit of a performance aspect, not just facilitating, teaching, and coaching.

It's going to be more experiential—me on stage, performing a little bit, but also making a greater impact on those in the audience through different emotional pulls, like bringing in humour but also delivering hard truths.

Taking Action

After you acknowledge that you have a bigger mission and reframe the situation, understanding that feeling stuck is normal, how do you take action? 

Well, simply outline the steps you need to take for your new mission.

First, sit in self-reflection and ask yourself, “What really matters to me now?” 

Not “How am I going to do it?” but “What really matters to me now?” Does women's empowerment really matter to you? Does gender parity matter? Does diversity and inclusion matter? You know what really matters to you.

Then, goal setting. Set new, ambitious goals. Once you pick a goal, ask, “What’s bigger than that?” and then, “What’s bigger than that?” Bigger in impact, joy, and your mission. It doesn’t have to mean more work, because you can bring on people to help.

Next, ask yourself about learning and growth. What new skills do you need to acquire? What new knowledge do you want to learn that will help in this new chapter? What do you need to know more about?

I've been on this path of talking with actors who do one-woman shows. I’ve talked to other speakers who have booked out theaters and others who have done multi-date tours for their talks to see how I can apply that to my own journey. I’m grabbing their knowledge and continuing to build my comedy skills by working with a stand-up comedy coach who also does keynotes, trainings, and workshops, which will help me bring it into everything I do.

The last piece around taking action is networking, mentorship, and coaching. 

Connect with others who can support you. I’ve already shared how I’ve been doing that, but you need people to guide you. I’ve hired a coach to help guide me through this new version of myself, this new mission because I can get stuck, frustrated, and unsure of the next steps. I need someone from the outside to help me figure out the hard truths, pull them out of me, ask tough questions, provoke me, and push me to get them done. 

If you want to dive deeper into this or have another coaching topic you wish to discuss, please contact me at [email protected], and let’s see about getting you where you need to be.

Overcoming fear and resistance

The benefit of having someone to support you is crucial as we move to the next piece: overcoming fear and resistance. Feeling fear and resistance when stepping into a bigger mission is natural because it’s easier to return to the old mission.

One strategy to overcome these feelings is to focus on small, manageable steps rather than the entire journey. Right now, I’m not looking at how to do a multi-province cross-Canada tour, move it into the States, get it funded, sell tickets, and manage it with my family. 

All I’m doing now is talking to people who have done something similar or have helpful information. That’s it. I’m figuring out this new, bigger mission for me, so I know what I will speak about on that stage. I have some inklings, but I know it could be even bigger.

Also, practice self-compassion and patience with yourself. Make sure that the coach you have will honour that but not let you wallow in it. You need a coach who will pull you forward and help you. Self-compassion and patience during this transition are crucial. 

Think of the butterfly: first, the caterpillar is in the cocoon, growing into a butterfly, and then emerging. It’s a vulnerable stage, and you’re not ready to take on the world right in that place. But with support and self-care, you can navigate this transition successfully.

Wrapping Up

I've shared some examples of how I've gone through this, and you can think about how others, perhaps famous people whose biographies or autobiographies you’ve read, have experienced similar transitions. Consider researching philanthropists and their missions, CEOs and their missions, or entrepreneurs and their missions to see how they evolved. 

Look into social enterprises or philanthropic companies where purchasing a product supports a cause, such as building schools or digging wells. Learn how they developed their bigger mission. You don't have to always do this kind of mission-style work, but your mission is the legacy you want in the world. 

Remember, feeling stuck is often just a signpost indicating that you're ready for a bigger, more meaningful mission. It doesn’t mean you’re failing or in a terrible place, but you may need support to ensure you’re on the right path. It could be a bigger mission or you may need a full change. Embrace the change and take proactive steps toward your expanded purpose. You can rise to meet this new mission presenting itself to you.

After you finish reading this blog, listening to this as a podcast, or watching on the Diane Rolston YouTube channel, pause and reflect on how you will start taking action today. I’d love to hear about it. Email me at [email protected] and let me know how this has impacted you. 

Until next time, stay dynamic and jump on that bigger mission.

Read my other blogs:

1. What Are You Waiting For
2. Steal My Strategy for Delegating
3. 3 Quick Tips to Get Out of a Mood