A Creative Rut: The Fear of Change, Procrastination, & Embracing the Next Step

There’s a moment when you sense that a breakthrough is right around the corner. Deep down, you already know what your next step is, but the change that comes with it feels HUGE. It requires courage, and in many ways, it’s this fear that keeps us from moving forward.

Neuroscientists say our brains are wired to protect us from pain, and procrastination is one of the ways this plays out. We avoid the things that scare us—failure, being seen, or stepping out of our comfort zones. Like most coping mechanisms, procrastination is helpful... until it isn’t.

This concept isn’t new. Philosophers like Socrates have long asked why, when we know what’s best, we still avoid taking action. I ask myself this all the time, especially when I realize I’m stuck in a rut. You know the feeling—when your days start to feel stale because you’re not taking the actions you know you should. For creatives, this is especially painful. When you’re not creating, it can feel like a slow death. You feel drained, and life starts to feel harder than it should.

Through my own reflection, I’ve learned that procrastination often comes from a lack of self-compassion. Ignoring my need for self-expression has, at times, been an act of unkindness to myself. I’ve been protective of myself, but it’s time to consider what happens when my greatest obstacle is my own fear.

Without judgment, I’m learning to face this fear head-on, to stop running away from myself, and to commit to the process of growth. The key is to be gentle with myself—gently picking up where I left off and focusing on the next step, not the entire journey.

Brianna Wiest puts it beautifully: “Your life will be a series of inhales and exhales. Becoming yourself is a series of building and unbuilding, trying and failing, showing up, and sometimes knowing when to turn away.” I’m learning that there’s no shame in failure, no shame in starting over, or being seen while you try. What matters is how you respond and how you continuously step toward becoming your truest self.

So, I’ve started asking myself important questions: “What am I truly afraid of?” and “What’s the worst that could happen?” The more honest I am with myself, the easier it becomes to take action.

Here’s the truth: I don’t work better under pressure, even though I’ve convinced myself otherwise. I deserve better than that. And ultimately, you can’t outrun yourself. You can’t distract yourself forever from the thing you’re avoiding. The only way forward is to show up, even in the mundane, and let those small steps lead to bigger growth.

The gap between where you are and where you want to be feels huge, but it’s time and consistent effort that will close it. Nobody is inspired or motivated all the time, and no matter where you are in your journey, you’ll have days when things feel hard. But if you keep showing up and doing the work, that’s where the magic happens.

It’s taken me too long to learn this, but I know it’s worth the wait. You can protect yourself in many ways, but time won’t wait. The question is: will you show up for yourself now?