Feeling stuck? Remember you don't control the timing.

I’d been feeling really stuck. The to-do list I wrote on my whiteboard was still there a week later and my home office eventually succumbed to the clutter. Between not knowing my next career move and my mom’s declining health, I was overwhelmed.

The job interview I mentioned in my last post stalled at the scheduling stage and the banished voices in the distance were getting louder.

Was this opportunity about to implode? Did something change? Did I do something wrong? Was this search really about to go into 2026?

Rationally, I knew I didn’t do anything wrong and interview processes take time, but that didn’t stop the thoughts. Even with a positive attitude I still have negative moments. The thing I’ve gotten better at is moving through them. Sometimes it’s hours, other times it’s days, and most recently a couple weeks.

One thing that helped was reminding myself that I don’t control the timing. I could wish and want this search and these interviews to move faster but I know the realities of business, and nearly everything about this is out of my control until the next “tell me about a time when…”

This reminder helped me redirect the anxious energy into additional interview prep. It’s the area I have the most control until I’m in the actual interview flexing my stuff. There are an endless number of questions to prepare for, and each one I develop an answer to builds my confidence so I can show up even stronger when the lights are brightest.

This didn’t solve all my stuckness, but it helped until I got the confirmation I’d been waiting for a couple days ago…plus a lot more. I went from a dry ass summer with no interview activity since June to now having three scheduled interviews next week!

As my search heads into its seventh month, I’m confident it’ll be over soon. I said it’d take five interviews to land an offer and what’s on the calendar brings me to six. I’m also more prepared than I’ve been for any other interviews ever, and have gotten several signs from the universe that positive change is coming.

Things are happening exactly when they’re supposed to.

So next time you’re in a situation where you’re feeling stuck because things aren’t moving faster, remember you don’t control the timing. Remind yourself everyday if needed.

That’s what I did and it freed up some mental space.

R