Neuroloops of Nowhere Part 2 – Hack Your Way Out of Stuck
- Brainz Magazine
- Jul 24
- 6 min read
Dana Hatch is renowned for employing a variety of coaching methods to assist leaders in overcoming their struggles and achieving the next level of success.
In Part 1, we explored why you’re not lazy, broken, or doomed; you’re simply human, and your brain is wired for survival, not bold moves. Now, let’s talk about how to actually get unstuck. Because while understanding your brain’s tricks is half the battle, the other half is hacking your way through the neural jungle one baby step at a time.
The great internal mismatch: Brain vs. body edition
Your brain might be the boss, but your body’s the union rep you can’t ignore
If your brain is the big boss running the show, your body’s the grizzled, no-nonsense middle manager, the union rep who’s seen it all, deals with the emotional HR violations from your past, and isn’t afraid to throw a wrench in the works when things get messy.
And here’s the wild truth, boss:
You ain’t walking outta this stuck mess just by thinking harder if your body still thinks the place is under siege.
The body keeps the score and then sends it to the group chat
When you feel stuck, it’s not just a cognitive issue. Your nervous system is likely in a low-grade survival state, marinating in cortisol and bracing for impact like a human smoke alarm that’s been going off for years.
You might look calm on the outside, but inside?
You’re holding your breath.
Clenching your jaw.
Tensing your shoulders like they’re trying to kiss your ears.
Living like you’re one email away from a complete existential unraveling.
This is because your brain doesn’t just give orders to the body; it takes cues from it. If your body is signaling “tense, tight, unsafe,” your brain interprets that as danger, and suddenly that business idea or vulnerable conversation feels life-threatening, even though it’s just Tuesday and you’re holding a Starbucks.
The vagus nerve: Your inner peace hotline (that’s probably on do not disturb)
Let’s talk about the unsung hero in all this chaos: the vagus nerve. It runs from your brainstem to your gut, touching your heart, lungs, and voice box along the way. It’s basically your body’s emotional Wi-Fi, transmitting real-time updates between your body and brain, like:
“All clear, you’re safe to create.”
“Panic mode, shut it down.”
“We’re crying in the car again, send reinforcements.”
When your vagus nerve is toned and regulated, you feel grounded, calm, and emotionally resilient. When it’s dysregulated (thanks, chronic stress, trauma, and modern life), you feel edgy, anxious, exhausted, and, yep, stuck.
That means even if you want to move forward, your body might be silently vetoing your goals because it’s operating under the belief that safety = stillness.
You can’t heal in the same state that broke you
And here’s the kicker: your body doesn’t care about your ambitions. It cares about survival. So until you physically convince your nervous system that it’s okay to relax, take risks, and receive something different, your brain will keep defaulting to shut down, even when everything looks fine on paper.
This is why things like:
Deep breathing (real breathing, not the shallow “I’m fine” kind)
Movement (even awkward living room dancing counts)
Cold exposure, vagus nerve massage, or humming
Touch, connection, and co-regulation with safe people
aren’t just “wellness fluff.” They’re actual interventions that signal to your nervous system: We’re not in danger anymore. It’s safe to try. It’s safe to want. It’s safe to go.
Because here’s the truth:
You can journal all day and recite affirmations like your life depends on it, but if your body is still stuck in “freeze,” your brain won’t believe a word of it.
Enough foreplay: Let’s rewire some sh*t
How to unstick your brain without losing your mind
Alright, let’s just clear something up real quick: You’re not going to do one meditation, align your chakras, drink a green juice, and wake up like that scrappy underdog who accidentally becomes a genius, think the kid in every coming-of-age movie who flunks out but somehow hacks the system with nothing but grit and questionable decisions. That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.
Unsticking yourself is a slow, grimy crawl through the muck of your own brain, a messy, miraculous, awkward mess that’s about as graceful as a cat on a Roomba.
But the good news? It's not magic. It's mechanics.
And if you learn the tools, you can start flipping switches in your brain like a rogue electrician with nothing left to lose.
Step one: Shrink the freakout window (regulate first, decide later)
If you’re trying to make bold moves while your nervous system is screaming “CODE RED,” you’re going to keep defaulting to fight, fawn, or freeze.
So, before you try to solve your whole life, do something that calms your body, not just your brain:
Walk barefoot in the grass like a feral wellness goblin.
Shake your arms like you’re about to perform an exorcism.
Breathe in for four, hold for four, and exhale like you’re sighing at someone who’s testing your last nerve.
Hum. Gargle. Sing in the car. (Yes, this tones your vagus nerve. Neuroscience loves karaoke.)
Calm the body = reboot the brain.
Step two: Micro-change over mega-moves
You don’t need to overhaul your entire life. You need to make one different choice. One “microscopic but meaningful” move that tells your brain: Hey, we’re not doing Groundhog Day anymore.
This might mean:
Sending one email.
Saying “no” once.
Choosing a new thought instead of rehearsing the old one.
Moving your laptop from your bed to a table. (Yes, that counts. We are grading on a curve here.)
Your brain learns by repetition. So, start repeating small wins, not just internal warnings.
Step three: Reframe the narrative (truth bomb your thought loops)
Catch the story you’re telling yourself about why you “can’t” move, and challenge it like you would a drunk friend trying to text their ex.
“I’m not ready.” → You’ll never feel ready. Brains don’t serve courage. You bring it.
“I don’t want to fail.” → You’re already failing quietly by doing nothing. Might as well fail forward.
“What if I mess it up?” → What if you don’t? What if it works?
Your old beliefs are not sacred. They’re not facts. They’re neural habits. And you’re allowed to rewrite them.
Step four: Repetition is queen. (Boring = effective)
Neural pathways don’t change because you got hyped once at a Tony Robbins event. They change because you repeatedly do the new thing, even when it’s awkward, uncomfortable, or boring as hell.
Celebrate micro-wins.
Normalize resistance.
Keep going even when it feels weird.
Your brain doesn’t trust change at first. But eventually, it gets the memo.
Step five: Don’t do it alone. (Seriously, don’t.)
Here’s the most underused neuroscience hack: Co-regulation.
Your nervous system needs other safe, grounded humans to borrow regulation from. Healing in isolation is a myth. You’re wired for connection, not solo struggle.
So, call a friend. Hire the coach. Join the group. Cry to your dog. Whatever it takes, just don’t go it alone.
Stuckness, like the boogeyman, thrives in silence and the dark. It dissolves in the light and shared space.
The bottom line?
You’re not broken. You’re brilliantly wired.
Let’s land this plane.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, mentally, emotionally, creatively, or existentially, it’s not because you’re lazy, incapable, or secretly doomed to live a life full of abandoned dreams and half-filled Google Docs.
You are not the problem.
You are the pattern.
And patterns.
Save this: Neuroscience-backed ways to unstick your life
Your stuckness is NOT:
Laziness
A lack of willpower
A character flaw
Proof you're not "meant" for something
Your stuckness IS:
A survival response
A freeze state
A fear-based loop
A body-brain feedback glitch
Tools that actually work:
Regulate before you "figure it out"
Shrink the change
Challenge your loops
Repeat the new thing
Get support
Mic drop reminder: You're not stuck because you're weak. You're stuck because your system has been working overtime to protect you. And now? You're ready to lead it somewhere new.
Read more from Dana Hatch
Dana Hatch, Executive and Neurolinguistics Coach
As a certified executive and neurolinguistics coach with over 15 years of experience in business consulting, I bring a unique blend of psychological insight and practical business acumen to help leaders and organizations achieve transformative results. My approach combines cutting-edge coaching techniques with deep industry knowledge to unlock potential, drive performance, and foster sustainable growth.
