Have you ever felt stuck—even when you know what to do?
You’re not alone. I’ve been stuck too.
Writing regular blogs has been on my to-do list for ages. Despite having the skills, the tech, the ideas, and an audience eager to hear from me, I found myself in a cycle of unhelpful thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. The self-doubt created anxiety. Perfectionism stopped the flow. Productive procrastination filled my time. And it all led to frustration and inertia.
So how did I finally press send?
My Clients Showed Me the Way
I help my clients get unstuck all the time.
Their struggles vary — unfulfilling jobs, stagnant relationships, work-life imbalance, identity or life direction crises, a longing for more nourishing friendships, or a desire to take better care of their health and wellbeing. Some have been stuck for weeks, others for years.
And yet, the steps I take them through always get results.
“I made decisions about my future that I may have procrastinated about and/or settled with if I had not had the chance to discuss this with Lynda and reach these decisions.”
“Before I started coaching with Lynda, I felt overwhelmed, frustrated, annoyed, caged in, helpless. The list goes on. Now I feel more empowered making decisions regarding my future — even if some of it is a leap of faith.”
“Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zones in order to grow as a person and strive for what we really want out of life instead of just settling.”
The 5 Steps I Took to Get Unstuck
Inspired by my clients, I took a leaf out of my own coaching playbook and followed the same process I guide others through. Here’s what helped:
- Acknowledge and Accept
I admitted to myself that I was stuck and allowed it to be OK. - Explore
I looked at what emotions and thoughts were holding me back. What stories was I telling myself? What habits weren’t serving me? - Challenge and Reframe
I questioned the truth of my limiting beliefs. What if I wasn’t behind? What if people wanted to hear from me? What if sending this helped someone else? - Shrink the Task
I broke it into steps: outline, write, light edit (perfectionism parked), set up the tech, press send. - Take Action
In a co-working accountability group, I gave myself just 15 minutes to draft the outline. That tiny step created momentum. And the accountability helped me follow through.
Messy action is often the best action. Especially for perfectionists. It breaks the cycle and gets you moving again.
Stuckness Is Universal
We all get stuck. And most of the time, we do know what to do. Or we could Google it.
But it’s not a lack of knowledge that holds us back. It’s anxiety. Overthinking. Procrastination. Imposter syndrome. The fear of getting it wrong.
And so we say things like:
“I’ll do it tomorrow.”
“I’ll do it when…”
“I just need to sort out [insert excuse] first.”
Sometimes the smallest actions are the ones that change everything.
Try this: next time you feel the resistance rising, count backward from 5 and go. It interrupts the spiral and gives you just enough pause to choose something different.
Journaling Prompt: A Letter to Your Body
Getting unstuck often starts with reconnecting to ourselves — not through doing more, but by listening more deeply.
One of the simplest and most powerful ways to begin is writing a letter to your body.
Thank it for everything it has carried you through. Acknowledge what’s changed. Forgive it where needed. Celebrate its resilience.
This simple act of self-kindness can lead to improved body image, deeper emotional healing, and more mindful self-care. It also brings mental clarity, calm, and a sense of connection — perfect fuel for moving forward.
A Final Note
You are not broken. You are not behind. You are not alone.
“Your greatest relationship is the one you have with yourself. Build it. Strengthen it. Praise yourself.” – Kris Carr
