What if the thing keeping you stuck has nothing to do with what you think it is?

You might think you're procrastinating. Telling yourself you need more time, clarity, or confidence before moving forward.

Maybe you keep telling yourself you're too busy right now. You just need to do a little more research, get a few things figured out, or wait until life settles down. Then you'll finally be ready to move forward.

And sometimes, those reasons are completely valid.

But sometimes oftentimes, actually there's something underneath them that's harder to admit.

You see, you're not really avoiding sending the proposal... You're avoiding the possibility of hearing 'no'.

You're not really avoiding launching the program... You're avoiding the possibility that no one will buy.

You're not really avoiding writing the book... You're avoiding putting your work out there where someone might judge it.

The action itself isn't the problem. It's what you believe might happen if you take the action.

And even more importantly, what you believe that outcome mightmean about you.

It's something I've learned over the years through my own experiences, the many mentors I've had the privilege of learning from, and the many clients I've had the opportunity to work with.

Sometimes what looks like a productivity problem isn't really a productivity problem at all.

If you believe you're procrastinating, you might try to become more disciplined. If you believe you don't have enough time, you might try to create another schedule.

And if you believe you need more confidence, you might keep waiting until you feel ready.

But none of those things address the deeper story if the real issue is fear.

So here's a question I want you to sit with...

What am I afraid this will mean about me if it doesn't work?

Not just,'What if it doesn't work?'Go deeper. Consider what you'd make it mean about you.

Maybe that...

• You're not good enough?

• You made the wrong decision?

• People will judge you?

• You should have known better?

• You're not capable of doing what you said you wanted to do?

This is where things begins to shift. Because something not working is a possibility. But the meaning you attach to it is justa story. Even though the story feels so real for you.

Someone saying no doesn't automatically mean you're not good enough. A 'failed' attempt doesn't make you a failure. Changing direction doesn't mean you made the wrong choice.

Sometimes, it simply means you tried and learned something, and now you know more than you did before.

It's simply feedback.

So, if there's something you've been putting off, I want you to look at it a little differently.

Instead of asking yourself,'Why can't I just get myself to do this?'

Ask...'What's really behind my hesitation?'

You may discover that the thing standing between you and your next step isn't a lack of motivation, discipline, or time.

And once you can see what's really going on, you have a choice.

You don't have to wait until you feel completely confident, and you don't have to know exactly how everything will turn out. You can feel uncomfortable and still take the next step.

Because sometimes moving forward isn't about getting rid of the fear. It's about deciding that the fear doesn't get to make the decision for you.