As someone who tends to be both a procrastinator and a perfectionist, I’ve found myself wasting a considerable amount of time feeling stuck. Surprisingly, being in this state consumes a lot of energy. The negative emotions of self-loathing and guilt associated with it has turned out to be more draining than actively working on something.

What’s interesting is that, during low-energy moments, I’ve been able to convince myself that making progress would further deplete my energy. I’ve finally come to realize the opposite is true. By shedding judgment and gradually facing the things I’ve been avoiding, I’ve managed to break free from the chains of negativity and move forward.

For anyone else feeling stuck, I encourage you to pick one thing you’ve been avoiding, acknowledge that it might be uncomfortable and you might mess up, and take the leap anyway. See how it feels. The act of confronting your fears and self doubt can be surprisingly liberating.