What’s the Payoff for Staying Stuck?

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What’s the Payoff for Staying Stuck?
The Real Reason You’re Resisting Change (and What to Do About It)

In this episode I talk about the payoff for being stuck. On the surface it sounds silly to think that there could be any reason we would want to stay stuck....but when you dig a bit deeper, there will be a reason you are resisting change.

There was a time when I found myself struggling to take the steps needed to make my dreams happen. I kept circling back to the same stuck place—never really pushing forward, even though I knew what I wanted deep down. On an unconscious level, I realized it wasn’t a fear of failure holding me back. It was the fear of success. Success felt heavy, like it would demand too much of me. What if it came with responsibilities I couldn’t manage? What if I felt trapped, overwhelmed, or even suffocated by it?

Sound familiar?

It’s easier to stay where we are, isn’t it? Even when it makes us miserable. There’s a comfort in not moving, in remaining within the familiar, because change, even the good kind, is hard. We’re creatures of habit, and staying within our comfort zones keeps us feeling safe, protected. But what if that safety is exactly what’s keeping us from growing?

At some level, staying stuck serves us. There’s always a payoff for not taking action, whether we realize it or not. Here are some possible reasons you might be holding back:

• Avoiding the unknown: “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” The familiarity of where you are, even if it’s not where you want to be, feels safer than stepping into uncharted territory.
• Fear of change: Change is uncomfortable. It’s challenging. It demands something from us—energy, effort, vulnerability. Even when we know it’s good for us, we resist it.
• Fear of success: Success might come with its own set of challenges—responsibility, expectations, or the fear of losing freedom. What if it’s too much to handle? What if it changes everything and leaves us feeling overwhelmed?
• Comfort in habits: We’ve evolved to seek safety and protection. Our routines, however limiting they might be, provide us with comfort. Change disrupts that security.

Hi there, I’m Kay, a Therapist and Coach, author and podcaster. I help women get unstuck, get clear on what they want and create meaningful lasting change.

Come and join me on the Last Sunday of the month for MAKE IT HAPPEN 7pm UK time.

Get intentional and clear on what you want to create and do this coming month.

In this one hour guided check-in you will:
Reflect on the past month - what you got up to, what you want to celebrate and the challenges you are proud of dealing with

Get clear on what you want to make happen next month - from the goals you want to focus on, to the simple pleasures you want to fill your days with

Create a simple action plan and schedule things into your calendar to make sure you fill this month with the things you want to do.

Last Sunday of the Month

• A notebook or journal and pen

• Your calendar

To join head to Kayholdsworth.com