I’ve been fascinated by behavioral economics for years, especially how it helps explain that space between wanting to move forward and actually doing it. Sometimes we know what we “should” do and still hesitate. Other times, the next move feels murky. Either way, we get stuck. And not because we’re doing anything wrong.

Recently, I fell down a research rabbit hole and landed on a term I hadn’t seen before: neuroeconomics — the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and economics. It explores how we make decisions, especially when things feel uncertain or high stakes. Which is exactly the space many people find themselves in when they’re stuck.

That’s why I created The Stuck Spectrum™, a framework that gives shape to the different ways this shows up:

🔹Stalled: Frozen at the starting line

🔹Spinning: Overthinking and overdoing

🔹Shrinking: Dimming down or questioning your value

🔹Split: Pulled between competing roles or priorities

🔹Stretched: Spread too thin to focus

Each one has its own logic — because stuckness isn’t about effort. It’s about how your brain is processing what’s ahead. But the good news is: If your brain is the one keeping you stuck… it’s also the one that can help you get unstuck. That’s thanks to something called neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself based on what you do and repeat over time.

It doesn’t take a reinvention. It takes small, consistent shifts that eventually become your new normal.