Calling Forward

By: Abby Priebe

“Moving forward requires that one first take a step.” ~Chase S.M. Neill

I graduated with a humanities degree in the depths of the Great Recession of 2008–2009, when jobs—especially in the liberal arts—were scarce. Carrying significant student loan debt, I felt intense pressure to find work quickly. After five months of searching, I accepted a position at a small liberal arts university. Having served as an RA in college, the role felt somewhat aligned with my experience. Yet the low salary, loan payments, and the added expense of buying a car meant I couldn’t afford to live on my own, so I moved back home.

It was a discouraging beginning to adulthood. I left college full of ambition and optimism, only to face financial strain and long days in a windowless basement office that sometimes flooded. I felt stuck—unable to move forward or imagine a path to independence. The gap between the life I had hoped for and the one I was living felt stark and overwhelming.

All of us experience seasons of feeling stuck, but there are intentional steps we can take to move toward greater alignment between our desires and our circumstances.

First, join a community. We are created for meaningful connection and need others for support, encouragement, and challenge. I found a multi-generational group at my church exploring themes of purpose and calling; they became a sounding board and steady source of hope for what was next.

Second, get outside. Nature heals and restores perspective. While working my survival job, I trained for a marathon and grew familiar with the trails of nearby forest preserves. You don’t need to run 26.2 miles—start with a walk around the block.

Finally, challenge your brain. When work feels rote, pursue growth elsewhere. Follow your curiosity. I began taking graduate courses in counseling.

Choosing connection, movement and growth helps us move forward when we feel stuck. 

 With time, I’ve grown grateful for life’s seasons. Though I once felt stuck, the following decade brought marriage, a master’s degree, and the birth of my first child. Life remains unpredictable—rarely unfolding according to my careful plans—but I’m learning to listen and respond, trusting that meaning and purpose evolve over time.

Where in your life do you currently feel stuck?

What small step toward movement or growth could you take this week—outside, in community, or in your learning?