Stuck in a Rut? The Real Reason You’re Not Taking Action
You know what to do.
You’ve read the books.
You’ve taken the course.
You’ve written the to-do list.
And yet… nothing.
You’re still not doing the thing.
Whether it’s launching that project, hitting “send” on the email, or finally having that difficult conversation — something’s keeping you frozen. But it’s not what you think.
Why You’re Actually Stuck (Hint: It’s Not Laziness)
Most people assume they’re stuck because they’re lazy or unmotivated. But let’s be honest: you’re not lazy. If you were, you wouldn’t be reading this, trying to figure out what’s going on beneath the surface.
The truth is, inaction is rarely about discipline.
It’s about emotion.
More specifically: fear, shame, and self-doubt quietly running the show behind the scenes.
When your nervous system perceives risk — even emotional risk like rejection, embarrassment, failure, or not being good enough — it activates a protective response. And one of the most common protective responses is... nothing.
You freeze.
You avoid.
You scroll.
You procrastinate.
It’s not a character flaw. It’s a safety mechanism.
The Science of “Stuck”
Your brain is built for survival, not success.
It doesn’t care if you launch the course, pitch the podcast, or ask for the raise.
It cares whether it feels safe.
And the moment “doing the thing” feels like a threat to your identity or relationships, your nervous system will quietly hit the brakes.
The more we shame ourselves for being stuck, the more our brain associates taking action with pain. Which... you guessed it... keeps us stuck even longer.
3 Steps to Get Unstuck (Without Forcing It)
These aren’t productivity hacks.
They’re nervous-system-friendly shifts that help you move forward without pushing against yourself.
1. Acknowledge the Fear Beneath the Inaction
Instead of powering through, pause and ask:
What am I afraid might happen if I actually do this?
You might be surprised by the answer.
“I’ll mess it up.”
“People will judge me.”
“If I try and fail, I’ll confirm I’m not good enough.”
Once you name it, you stop being ruled by it.
2. Lower the Stakes
Perfectionism paralyzes. If the next step feels overwhelming, shrink it.
Like, absurdly small.
Not “write the chapter.”
Just “open the document.”
Not “go to the gym.”
Just “put on your sneakers.”
Not “pitch the offer.”
Just “write a draft.”
Momentum doesn’t come from pressure.
It comes from safety.
3. Celebrate Micro Wins
Your brain is a pattern machine.
Every time you associate action with reward — no matter how small — you teach your system: this is safe and worth repeating.
Did you take a step today?
Pause.
Name it.
Celebrate it.
(Yes, even just opening the doc counts.)
Real Talk: You’re Not Lazy — You’re Protective
You don’t need more discipline. You don’t need another pep talk.
What you need is compassion, clarity, and a safer way forward.
Because the truth is:
You are not lazy.
You are not broken.
You are not behind.
You are protecting yourself in the only way you’ve known.
Let’s teach your brain a new way.
Want Support Moving Through the Stuck?
If you’re ready to stop forcing and start flowing, I’d love to invite you to my Weekly Coaching Group.
You’ll get:
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Gentle, powerful tools to move through emotional blocks
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Weekly accountability so you’re not doing it alone
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Support from a community that gets it
✨ Try it free for 2 weeks. No pressure. Just progress.
