There are moments when you know exactly what you need to do, yet you just don't do it.

This actually came up in our Mid-Year Momentum workshop when we were looking at the goals we set at the beginning of the year and what it really takes to move them forward.

So you know you need to launch the offer, write the book, raise your prices, have the conversation, hit publish… and yet, you don’t.

And most of the time, it’s easy to assumeit's a discipline or motivation issue. That you just need to push a little harder or be more consistent.

But often, that’s not what’s actually happening.

Because the real reason you’re not taking action is that a part of you believes achieving that goal will cost you something.

Maybe…

• Success means you'll be judged

• Visibility means you'll be criticized

• Making more money means you'll outgrow people you love

• Writing your book means people will finally see the real you—and what if they don't like what they see?

So you end up in this strange place where one part of you genuinely wants the goal, and another part of you is trying to protect you from it.

That’s why forcing yourself into action rarely works long term.

One of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself is simply this…

What am I afraid this goal will cost me if I actually achieve it?

And then just as important…

What am I gaining by not taking action?

Because you are gaining something. This is what's called a secondary gain. Every behaviour, even the ones that frustrate you is meeting a need in some way.

You don’t repeatedly do things that don't serve a purpose. Even procrastination, avoidance, overthinking is doing something for you.

Procrastination may be protecting you from failure. Perfectionism might be helping you avoid criticism. Playing small may be keeping you from rejection.

Staying in a job you don't love may be giving you certainty. And avoiding the next step may be protecting you from the uncertainty that comes with growth.

So your lack of action isn’t really the problem. It’s just the way your mind has been trying to meet a need.

That’s why the goal isn’t to force yourself into action, but rather to uncover what’s creating the resistance in the first place

Because once you uncover that secondary gain, you can begin to remove the invisible resistance that's been keeping you stuck. Making it easier to finally do the things you already know you need to do.

So, Faith, if you’ve been wondering why you keep putting off the very thing you say you want, instead of asking... ‘Why am I so unmotivated?’

Ask... ‘What's this lack of action trying to protect me from?’

And just sit with that for a moment.

Because when you can see the fear beneath the behaviour, you stop fighting yourself.

And when you stop fighting yourself, you finally give yourself permission to move forward.