Feeling like you're stuck in a rut

I'm not an expert on inspiring and motivating other people, yet I always feel like I have accomplished something by sharing some of the things I learn through reading; things that make an impact on a person's self assurance.

I know I have written posts on motivation and inspiration basically for the jorney of life, but have you ever felt like you're still stuck in a rut, even after all that reading? I happen to be one of those people. You read a book for a week, and you have this new outlook to life. Some of the books even have worksheets that can help you apply what you've read to your everyday life, and you try to maintain your life based on those concepts and somehow it really changes you.

Yet there comes a point where all this just zips out of your head and you're back to square one. You feel stuck, without purpose, and everything in your life seems like such a burden. And you know what comes next ... stress, panic attacks, hypertension, and in extreme cases heart attacks.

I wish I had studied Psychology so I could have researched and found a way to change how our minds work sometimes. But I would like to hear what you have tried and found that it worked,... for the long term.