This is a great question. And it brings to mind the idea of presence—and this quote from the Buddha that I’d like to share with you:

“The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There’s only one moment for you to live, and that is the present moment.”

What he means is that you can’t change the past. It’s already happened. And you can’t decide the future because it’s not here yet. And the feeling of being stuck, in my experience, is almost always about wanting to revisit the past or step into a future that hasn’t yet happened.

This moment—the one you’re “stuck in” right this very second-–is the only place from which you can truly act.

You can’t go back in time and pick a different career path. You can’t leap into the future and make sure everything turns out the way you want, right?

But sometimes “stuck” isn’t a lack of progress.

It may be your inner voice quietly refusing to move you forward until you fully acknowledge where you already are.

We call it resistance, procrastination, self-sabotage. But often it’s a deeper part of you saying: “I won’t let you skip this chapter just because it’s uncomfortable.”

It can sometimes feel like your system is pumping the brakes until you honor the life you’re actually living, not the one you’re trying to sprint toward.

You’re not always stuck because you’re failing.

Sometimes you’re “stuck” because you haven’t yet blessed, named, or fully occupied the moment you’re already in. Many people find that focusing on the present moment helps them feel more grounded.

In a 2017 study published in Emotion, researchers used experience sampling surveys and found that focusing on the present reduced negative rumination and predicted higher life satisfaction over time.

Participants in this study were texted 5 times a day between the hours of 10am and midnight for a week (they consented to this, even though that sounds like a lot). Every text message linked to a survey asking them how they felt, and whether their thoughts were focused on the past, present, or future. Then they were asked questions to assess how much they were negatively ruminating.

Here’s what the researchers found.

Focusing on the present didn’t necessarily make anybody feel happier moment-to-moment. But the more positive a participant felt, the more likely they were to be present.

And the more people focused on the present, the less they engaged in negative rumination. Which in turn led to higher levels of life satisfaction.

Look, I get it, though. We all have a million things on our plates. We’re trying to juggle our jobs, our homes, our relationships. Presence can feel like a luxury. If time is an issue, there are simple exercises you can do to come back to this moment.

And, if all else fails… perhaps it’s just a reframe that’s needed today: Maybe you’re not behind. Maybe you’re right on time, and it’s your old definition of stuck that’s overdue for a rebrand.

Upwork Business Plus helps you stay in control with access to elite freelancers and AI powered recruiting that finds the right talent in minutes. Whether you’re leveling up your marketing, redesigning your website, building new products, or scaling day to day operations, Business Plus gives you the support to move faster and work smarter.

No hiring stress. No long term commitments. Just trusted professionals, transparent pricing, and built in payment protection so you can stay focused on growth instead of admin.

Join thousands of small business owners who are scaling more efficiently with Upwork Business Plus and unlocking the talent they need to keep momentum high. Spend $1,000 and get $500 back in credit before December 31, 2025.

Sometimes, all it takes to come back to this moment is to make the smallest choice to remember you’re right here. Exactly where you’re meant to be.

Try This: What’s one tiny choice you can make right now that aligns with your values and priorities? Do you need to take a break and walk around the block? Or stop and take a breath? Or send an email that’s been bouncing around your head for a while?

You don’t have to do everything on your own. Upwork Business Plus connects you with pre-vetted freelancers and AI-guided recruiting that makes hiring fast, simple, and reliable. With transparent pricing, flexible terms, and payment protection, you stay in control. Spend $1,000 and get $500 back in credit before December 31, 2025.