Three Ways We Get Stuck (That Have Nothing to Do with Motivation)
I’ve noticed something, both in my own life and in the women I work with:
We don’t usually get stuck because we don’t care. We get stuck standing right in front of something we want - and still can’t seem to take the next step. For a long time, I thought that meant I needed more discipline, more clarity, or just a better plan.
But most of the time, it’s actually much simpler than that. Almost every kind of “stuck” falls into one of these three categories:
Cognitive: I don’t know how.
Physical: I don’t have the capacity right now.
Emotional: Something in me is holding back.
The Cognitive Block: “I Don’t Know”
Sometimes, you’re stuck simply because you don’t yet have the knowledge you need. You’re capable. You’re willing. You just haven’t learned it yet.
Maybe you’re stepping into a new industry. Maybe you need to understand new systems, tools, or processes. The path forward here is learning: reading, asking questions, shadowing, and practicing.
I saw this recently with a client in the luxury transportation industry. She has a clear vision for her business and the drive to make it happen. But when it came to setting up systems and software, she felt stuck. Not because she didn’t want to do it and not because she was afraid - she just hadn’t learned it yet.
So we slowed it down, gave those ideas a place to land, and started building knowledge step by step. That’s all it took to create movement.
The Physical Block: “I Can’t”
Other times, the limitation is physical. This one is often the easiest to identify, but the hardest to accept.
You may not have the time, energy, capacity, or physical ability to carry something forward right now. And instead of adjusting, many of us push harder… which only leads to frustration.
One of my clients—a highly successful sales leader—recently had her fifth baby. In this new season, she simply could not operate at the same capacity she once did. So we shifted the question.
Not “How do I keep doing everything?” but “What needs to be delegated, simplified, or released for this season?”
From there, something beautiful happened. As space opened up, new ideas began to surface. Instead of forcing output, we created room for what was next.
The Emotional Block: “I’m Scared”
This is the one we miss most often, because it’s not always obvious.
You might have the knowledge and the ability and still find yourself stuck.
That’s when it’s worth asking: “Do I actually have the emotional capacity to do this right now?”
I recently spoke with a fellow coach who runs a successful eBay business. She knew exactly what needed to be improved. She had the skills and the time, but the business had plateaued. When we walked through these three areas together, it became clear: this wasn’t cognitive or physical, it was emotional.
There was hesitation around expansion. Around stepping into the next level and what it might require of her. That’s when the work shifted from tasks to coaching.
Because sometimes, the most important step forward isn’t doing more - it’s understanding what’s happening underneath.
So… Where Are You Stuck?
If you’re feeling stuck right now, pause and ask yourself:
Do I need to learn something? (Cognitive)
Do I need to adjust capacity or get help? (Physical)
Or do I need to slow down and explore what’s coming up internally? (Emotional)
There’s no judgment in any of these. Only clarity.
And clarity creates movement.
How I Can Help
This is the work I love to do! I come alongside women, especially coaches and business owners. who are holding a lot, and help them sort through what’s actually keeping them stuck.
Sometimes that looks like organizing ideas and building simple systems. Sometimes it’s helping you take clear, doable next steps. And sometimes, it’s slowing down together and asking the deeper questions with compassion and honesty.
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
If this resonated with you, I’d love to walk with you in it. Contact me to get started.