The moment you start asking “is this it?”

There comes a time in your life (often somewhere in your late 30’s or 40’s) when you pause and think “is this all there is?” Maybe your career feels routine, your kids are older and need you less, your passions have shifted or you’re questioning old goals.  

What feeling stuck really means

Feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It’s not about losing your direction or being broken either. It’s about outgrowing an old version of yourself. It means something inside you is craving alignment.

Midlife is a recalibration. It’s your chance to align your life with who you’ve become instead of who you were five or ten years ago.

How to move forward

Here are a few tips to help you start finding your way again and to move from stuck to centered. And remember: small steps can spark big change.

• Be curious, not critical: instead of judging your feelings, explore them and ask yourself “what’s this season of my life trying to teach me?”

• Reconnect with what lights you up: remember the hobbies, passions or dreams you once shelved? Dust them off and rediscover them.

• Redefine success: what feels fulfilling today, not five years ago?

• Talk it out: sharing your feelings brings clarity and perspective, whether it’s with a coach, therapist or friend

You’re not behind, you’re evolving

This stage of life isn’t about endings. It’s about becoming. You’re not stuck. You’re simply standing on the edge of your next beginning. You’re stepping into a wiser and more grounded version of yourself.

©jessicahermans2025