What To Do When You Feel Stuck – Career Advice From An MD-Turned-Coach

You’ve done everything you were supposed to. You’ve got the degree, built the career, checked every box.

So why does your life feel… off?

If you feel stuck right now, like you’re going through the motions of a life that no longer fits, know that you’re not alone.

I’ve felt that too. I was a doctor doing meaningful work, but deep down, I knew something had shifted.

That moment was the beginning of everything I’ve built since. And in this article, I’m sharing the tiny yet powerful shifts that helped me get unstuck and move forward.

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Stuck Doesn’t Mean You’re Broken

We often confuse feeling stuck with failure. But being stuck doesn’t mean you’re unmotivated or incapable. It simply means you’ve outgrown something.

You’re living in a version of your life that no longer fits. One that’s misaligned with your values, energy, or current season of life. 

This feeling of misalignment is so common. I talk to many mid-career professionals who say, 

“I’ve done everything I was supposed to do… so why does my life feel so flat?”

And here’s the tricky part:

Even when you know something’s off, you might still find yourself unable to make a change.

Why is this?

Why Smart People Stay Stuck

People don’t stay stuck because they’re weak. They stay stuck because they’re smart.

Let me explain…

Smart people don’t leap without a plan. They analyze, overthink, and wait for certainty. They want the next step to be the perfect one. But all that thinking? 

It can keep them circling in place.

From my own experience and countless conversations with others in the same boat, I’ve found that three core fears quietly keep us frozen.

1. Fear of Regret

This one sounds like, “What if I make the wrong move?”

We often put so much pressure on the next step that we forget we’re allowed to adjust. 

Remember, you’re not signing a lifelong contract. You’re allowed to try something and change your mind after.

2. Fear of Judgment

You’ve built a reputation. You’ve become the expert, the reliable one. 

Now, changing direction feels like opening yourself up to criticism or disappointing others.

I felt this deeply when I first stepped away from my medical career. Some people were supportive. But others? They made their disapproval loud and clear.

But here’s the thing: people will judge you no matter what you do. 

The question is… Are you living for them or you?

3. Fear of Identity Loss

This sounds like: “If I’m not this anymore… who am I?”

When your identity is tied to a role, such as a job title or a career, it can feel terrifying to let it go, even if you know it no longer fits.

This fear kept me in medicine far longer than I should have stayed. Because letting it go felt like losing a piece of myself. 

But the truth? 

That identity wasn’t all of me. And it isn’t all of you, either.

Why Change Feels Dangerous

There’s a psychological reason this feels so hard. It’s called status quo bias—a cognitive bias that makes us favor what’s familiar, even if it’s not ideal.

Our brains equate familiarity with safety. So, even if you’re deeply discontent, staying where you are can feel safer than stepping into the unknown.

But as Joseph Campbell said: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”

That cave? It’s your next chapter. And yes, it’s scary. But on the other side of that, fear is the version of you you’ve been quietly yearning to become.

3 Hidden Signs It’s Time for a Change

Most people wait until they are completely burned out before making a change. But the signs come long before the breakdown.

Here are three subtle but powerful signs you might be ready for something new:

1. You Fantasize About a Completely Different Life

I’m not talking about dreaming of relaxing on a beach with a cocktail in hand. You’re not wishing for a vacation; you’re wishing for a brand-new life. 

You might have developed a fantasy life you regularly visit. One where you wake up excited. Where you feel seen, free, and fully you.

That fantasy is a breadcrumb; A clue to the life you truly desire and deserve. 

So don’t ignore your fantasies. Follow them.

2. You Feel Like You’re Performing Instead of Living

Do you feel like you’ve mastered your current role? And I’m not talking about skillset.

You know how to show up, get things done, say what’s expected. But inside, something feels off… like you’re going through the motions, not actually experiencing your life.

I recall walking into the clinic and feeling as though I was stepping onto a stage. Stethoscope on. Smile on. Switch flipped.

Everything looked right from the outside… but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was acting out a version of myself I no longer recognized.

3. Your Body Is Whispering (Or Yelling)

Maybe you can’t sleep. Or perhaps you wake up tired no matter how much you slept. 

Your body feels wired, but your energy is nowhere to be found.

These aren’t random symptoms. They’re signals.

Long before your mind can make sense of it, your body knows when something isn’t right.

It senses the misalignment between who you are and how you’re living, and it speaks to you— through tension, fatigue, and restlessness.

How To Get Unstuck

Now that you’ve identified feeling stuck, what do you do about it?

The good news is you don’t have to do anything dramatic. You don’t have to go storming into the office, resignation in hand. Instead, start small.

Here are three tiny shifts that helped me break free, one step at a time:

1. Ask Better Questions

If you’ve been asking yourself, “What should I do?” stop. 

That question often keeps us trapped in perfectionism and indecision, searching for the one “right” answer that doesn’t exist.

Instead, ask yourself, “Who do I want to become?”

When you shift your focus from doing to becoming, you stop trying to fix your life like a problem to be solved. Instead, you start shaping it like a story you get to write.

So ask yourself, what does your future self value? How does she spend her time? What lights her up?

2. Take Tiny Bold Moves

Big leaps may look glamorous and impressive from the outside, but lasting change starts with small steps. 

What tiny yet bold action could you take today to move closer to the person you want to become?

Sign up for a workshop. Say no to a commitment. Start a journal.

Even small motion builds momentum.

3. Create a Future You Want to Run Toward

Change is not just about escaping what you hate. It’s about building something you love. 

You don’t need total clarity of your future self. You need a spark—a flicker of something that feels alive in your body. 

So ask yourself:

• What am I craving more of in my days—freedom, creativity, connection, calm?
• What would feel exciting to wake up to?

Ready To Go Deeper?

In this week’s video episode, I break down these steps in more detail—and share 3 more shifts that helped me break free from a life that looked good on paper but didn’t feel like me.

Watch it now on YouTube:

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And if you want help taking the first step, I invite you to join me in The Reset. It’s a free 5-day challenge to help you clear the fog, reconnect to what matters, and start moving forward.

Because what feels like being stuck is actually the launchpad for your next move!

Resources:

• The Reset Challenge – FREE 5-Day Challenge To Reclaim Your Energy, Focus & Mindset
• The WellPlanned Method – Master Your Goals With The WellPlanned Goal Planner
• My Free Class for Health Coaches: How To Build A 6-Figure Health Coaching Business Using One Signature Program
• Dr. Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkimfoster/

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