We all have moments when we feel like we don’t have it all figured out and that the answers are elusive. It’s easy to be feeling good about your life and then have negative thoughts sneak up on you.
If any of this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing a mental block. Luckily, mental blocks are temporary, and the sooner you identify the problem, the sooner you can move past it and continue living a fulfilled life. This guide will teach you how to do that and more.
First Things First: What Is a Mental Block?
In the most basic terms, a mental block is an experience of feeling a barrier between you and your ability to progress your thoughts in a particular direction. When you experience a mental block, you may find that you cannot concentrate on a task or feel unmotivated. You may feel like you can’t figure things out. This can cause confusion and distraction.
Everyone experiences mental blocks differently, and your unique experience of a mental block greatly depends on several factors, including your:
- Occupation
- Age
- Where you live
- Health
- Skills
- Resources
As a result, several different mental blocks go by a wide range of terms. Some of those terms include:
- Mental fatigue
- Brain fog
- Writer’s block
- Spinning thoughts
- Lack of clarity
Now, let’s discuss the typical causes of mental blocks.
What Causes a Mental Block?
What causes a mental block can vary from person to person. Some common causes include:
- Exhaustion
- Lack of sleep
- Boredom
- Vitamin deficiency
- Clutter
- Imposter syndrome
- Self-limiting beliefs
- Rumminating on the past
- Worrying about the future
- Poor hydration
- Up-regulation
The good news is that you have the power to change these elements and overcome the obstacle that is clouding your thinking. Let’s explore how.
5 Actions to Getting Over a Mental Block
Getting over a mental block takes some effort, but by following a few steps, you can identify the block and move on with your life.
Action 1: Figure Out the Cause
You can’t fix a problem if you don’t know what it is. The first step towards moving past a mental block is identifying the problem.
Figure out what the underlying issue is. For example, you might be neglecting part of your life that you didn’t realize had such a large impact, such as a hobby, health needs or down time. You may also have gone through a life-changing or traumatic event that didn’t seem to immediately affect you at the time, but has crept into your everyday life.
Identifying the cause of your mental block will get you over that mental hurdle and steer you in the right direction towards healing.
Action 2: Ground Yourself
One cause for mental blocks is uncertainty about the future, so the next step you should take is grounding yourself and focusing on the present moment.
You can’t change the past, and although it seems unknown, you have the control to shape your future. But that’s only possible if you focus on what’s happening right now.
You may need to reconnect with your inner self to move past your mental block. Do this by taking a break from your busy life. Whether that means taking a short vacation, taking a social media break, spending an afternoon doing your favourite hobby, or taking up meditation, it is a way to ground yourself and become reacquainted with who you are.
Action 3: Be Compassionate With Yourself
Another cause of mental blocks is being too difficult on yourself. You may have recently failed to achieve a goal in your set time frame. Or perhaps you’re experiencing imposter syndrome and think that you don’t belong among those around you.
It’s important to give yourself credit where credit is due. You’ve accomplished a lot, and you deserve to be where you are right now. What’s more is that there’s so much more that you’ll accomplish in your life, and the best may still be yet to come.
If the goal seems too far away right now and is causing your mental block, move the goal post. Doing so may give you the confidence you need to keep going and move past your mental hurdle.
Action 4: Reframe Your Perspective
A great way to overcome a mental block is by thinking in a different way.
Life changes fast, and it sometimes takes us a while to catch up. Think about how you view life right now. It may no longer be conducive to your goals or the particular path you’re seeking.
To move past your mental block, try viewing things in a different way. Break things down into smaller tasks, take a deep breath, and focus on one thing at a time. It may be all you need to get over your block and reach your full potential.
Action 5: Decrease the Stress in Your Environment
One of the best things you can do to move past a mental block is to decrease the stress in your environment.
The clutter in your mind might be a reflection of the clutter around you. As a result, you may have an increased stress level from something so easily fixable as your environment. Decluttering your surroundings should be one of the first actions you take when trying to overcome a mental block.
But it may not be solely physical objects that you need to clean out. Your schedule might also be cluttered with unnecessary meetings that serve you no purpose but contribute to stress and anxiety. Prioritize the meetings where you’re needed, and let the others go so you have more time to do the things you love, which can spark creativity and help you get over your mental block.
Lastly, don’t forget to prioritize rest during this time and get enough sleep to wake up with a refreshed mind every morning.
Conclusion: A Mental Block Is Only Temporary
A mental block may seem impossible to get over while it’s happening, but there are many ways to move past it that require only a few changes to your way of thinking or routine.
If you need some guidance & support, 1428 Transformations is here to help. We offer a variety of strategies to help men overcome their mental blocks and continue living fulfilling lives.
Book your free introductory call today to get started!
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