Personal growth is never linear. There are periods when you see progress every day, and those achievements motivate you to keep moving forward.
Then, there are times when you feel like you’ve stalled. Maybe you’ve reached a major milestone but aren’t sure where to go next. Or, maybe you know where you want to go but can’t figure out how to get there. You’ve plateaued, and you feel like you might be stuck there forever.
First and foremost, a plateau is not a ceiling. It’s a landing on the staircase of life, and there are more steps up. Your job is to find them before you give up and head back down.
In this guide, you’ll learn about many reasons why people plateau in their personal growth journeys. You’ll discover actionable strategies for recovering your momentum and motivation so you can set a direction and take your next step forward.
Finding the Reason for Your Plateau
Personal growth plateaus are as varied as the journeys themselves. Stagnation in personal growth can happen due to external interruptions, such as changes in family or financial circumstances. Or maybe you’ve just stopped seeing opportunities or feel less motivated than you used to.
Before you can move forward from your personal plateau, you need to figure out what’s going on.
Possibility #1: Emotional Burnout
Constant striving can lead to burnout, which researchers have linked to emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and stalled achievement. These plateaus demand recovery before you continue moving forward, similar to how Everest climbers stop and camp to re-acclimate.
Possibility #2: The Post-Achievement Letdown
As research psychologist Dr. Richard Brown explains in Psychology Today, achievement can lead to post-achievement depression, which drains your motivation and can lead to a plateau. Allow yourself to feel the emotional letdown, then set your sights on something new.
It can help, Dr. Brown says, to focus on other personal growth goals. If you recently reached a professional target, you might turn your attention to a social or physical goal.
Possibility #3: Hardwired Change Resistance
Some neuroscientists believe the human brain is hardwired to resist change. Others say that change resistance depends on personality and scenario, with certain circumstances making change harder to accept.
You don’t have to know why your brain resists change to acknowledge that resistance. You don’t even have to know why you’ve accomplished so many things in the past, only to get “stuck” now. You only have to be aware that it’s a possibility, enough to reflect on the possible source of your resistance.
Being honest with yourself is only going to benefit your growth. If you know what you’re nervous about changing, you can address those concerns and start moving forward again.
Strategies for Managing the Plateau
The only way to guarantee you’ll stay on a plateau forever is to stand still. You don’t need to put extra pressure on yourself, demanding that you land that new job or lose 20 pounds before your next birthday. It’s more about changing your thought process and making a plan. These three strategies can help you get started.
1. Reframe Your Goals
You’ve probably heard that goal-setting helps you achieve what you want in life. But when you’ve hit a plateau, and your next goal feels unachievable, it’s easy to wonder what you’re doing wrong.
According to an article in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, the problem often lies in how we articulate those goals. The author shares three ways to break through a plateau, based on science:
- Think positively: You can’t do a “don’t.” If your goal involves avoiding something, try restating it as a positive action. Instead of telling yourself you’ll spend less time on social media, plan to schedule more in-person hobbies or time with friends.
- Put success within your control: Setting goals that depend on external factors is risky. If you fall short, you can lose momentum and plateau. When that happens, set a goal that depends on your effort and skill. For example, instead of losing 10 pounds, set your next goal to go to the gym 3 times a week.
- Find your just-right challenge: The best goals are neither unrealistically difficult nor too easy. If you’ve plateaued, set a target that’s just enough of a stretch to be motivating.
A motivating, realistic goal can be enough to get you past your plateau and back to making progress.
2. Seek Out New Challenges
When it comes to your work life, a lack of challenge is more damaging than a lack of promotion. Contributors to the Human Resource Management Journal suggest that the best way to overcome a career plateau is to seek different ways to use your skills.
3. Separate the What from the Why
If you’re stuck on your way to a specific goal, think about whether you’re short on motivation or skills. These are the two dimensions that help us get what we want, a paper in the Consulting Psychology Journal explains.
If you really want something and are willing to work for it, assess whether you have a skills gap. What can you do to close that gap?
Conversely, if you have the skill set to move forward, but doing so feels difficult, the solution probably lies in boosting your motivation. Staying motivated during a plateau might mean taking a break, reminding yourself of your “why,” or switching gears entirely.
Start Moving Forward Again with Plentiful
Personal growth plateaus are a normal part of the process. These strategies and insights can help you understand what’s going on and regain your momentum, but you don’t have to do it alone. A 60-minute SOS session can help you recognize your roadblocks, rediscover your inspiration, and make a plan for your next chapter.
Or, perhaps you’d prefer a different kind of inspiring experience. Plentiful offers in-person and virtual personal development programs, from sessions with a personal growth coach to mindfulness and yoga retreats in beautiful natural settings.
Join a dynamic community that’s as committed to personal growth and development as you are. Sign up today and find a program or experience that inspires you. It could be the spark that restarts your journey.
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