Everyone finds themselves in a rut at some point. It could be a dip in motivation, a season where results slow down, or simply a stretch where things feel flat and uninspired. When that happens, the natural response is to overanalyze—to dig for deep answers, create new strategies, or assume something must be broken. But sometimes, the way out of a rut isn’t complex at all. It’s about shifting your focus in small, intentional ways.

One of the most powerful things you can do when you feel stuck is take a moment to lift someone else up. Not because it solves every problem overnight, but because it shifts your mental energy away from self-focus and back toward connection. It could be as simple as sending five or ten text messages to people you appreciate. Not to promote anything. Not to pitch an idea. Just to let them know you’re thinking of them. That small gesture moves your mind from frustration to gratitude—and gratitude opens the door to momentum.

Another way to break the cycle is by serving others. With the holidays approaching, there are opportunities all around you to contribute. You could volunteer at a shelter, support a nonprofit that’s doing meaningful work, or even find ways to help a fellow partner who’s facing a tough time. When you engage with something bigger than your current circumstance, it changes how you see your own situation. The rut doesn’t feel as deep when your perspective is lifted by purpose.

This doesn’t mean ignoring your goals or pretending everything’s fine. It means giving yourself a reset that begins with intention. You can’t always control how quickly things grow, but you can always control how you show up—and sometimes, the fastest way to change your mood is to change your focus.

So if you’re in a season that feels slow or stuck, take a step that has nothing to do with production and everything to do with perspective. Appreciation and generosity are underrated strategies for personal growth, and they’re often exactly what’s needed to spark movement again.

Who could you encourage today with no strings attached—and how might that one gesture shift the way you feel about your own path forward?