Now Is Not The Time To Be Stuck

I recently had an experience where I was really stuck. I was helping move items on a freight elevator. There were many people helping, but we were unable to get all the items off the elevator before the elevator closed the doors and started up again. This happened once and I just had it go back down to finish unloading. We had all but two items off when the elevator took off again. I knew that this elevator had a history of problems and I had once seen someone else get stuck in it. As it approached the top floor, I pressed the button to go back down, but the elevator stopped and then dropped suddenly and then did nothing.

It was immediately clear to me that I was going nowhere. The sudden drop got my heart beating, but I knew I was safe. However, I wasn’t sure who knew that I was in the elevator. I hit the emergency call button and informed security about the problem. I could hear the operator talking to someone else, but he never acknowledged me further.

Feeling Helpless Causes Irrational Responses

At this point, I might have gone off the deep end. I was alone in an elevator that was having problems. I’m sure I could have played out a lot of scenarios about disastrous endings. Instead, I stayed calm and trusted that I would get out safely. I could have pounded on the doors or curled up in a ball and cried. Had I felt really unsure, I’m sure crying would have helped, but I was in a good frame of mind. I patiently waited. Then the lights went out. I Heard someone yell after that that they were resetting the elevator. (This is the point that I really started wondering about the abilities of those working to get me out.)

I texted a couple of the friends I was working with that I was stuck and to make sure my stuff that went out with the last load of stuff was watched over. My friends were busy loading the trailers, so I was not surprised that I hadn’t heard back, but after the lights went out a couple more times and I had done a Facebook Live to share some ideas on your attitude while being stuck, I called one of them. I loved his response, “We were wondering who was in the elevator.”

They now knew I was OK and were watching out for me. My friend informed that the elevator technician was 45 minutes out, but that they would continue to try to get the doors open to get me out. That communication was the first from my rescuers after being in the elevator for 30 minutes.

Set You Mind In Solution Mode, Not Stuck Mode

They got one of the doors to open a couple of inches, but that was all. They discuss a lot, and they worried about how I was doing. I was fine, though I checked my phone to see how it thought I was doing. The report came back as highly stressed. The funny thing is, I didn’t feel stressed. I was not moving, but I knew I was fine. My heart might have been beating faster, but my mind and emotions were at peace. I saw that they would get me out safely, and though I might be late for the fun after we finished the job, there was no problem that wouldn’t be solved.

In the end, my friend who stuck around to make sure I was out and to get the last of the equipment was the one who solved the problem of how to open the doors. He visualizes the possible solutions and he finds it. It came as no surprise to me that he was the one who found the solution, even though he had never done it before. He didn’t go into frustration or blame like the employees of the venue. He was just looking for solutions.

Stuck Is Seldom Not Moving

It is too easy to say that we are stuck and that we have no movement, but the reality is that we are gaining experience in all that we do. As we go through life, we can gain more movement if we are looking for the lessons in the experience, but we are learning regardless. Actively looking just increases our momentum.

By choosing to move forward, even in the worst of situations, you can avoid the agony of being stuck. You will move forward faster as you continue to hold on to that mindset. I know your life will improve as you do.