How to Start When You Feel Stuck: A Simple Mindset That Changes Everything

“Begin to free yourself at once by doing all that is possible with the means you have, and as you proceed in this spirit the way will open for you to do more.”
~ Robert Collier

Let’s take a deep breath together for a second. Because if you’re anything like me, there are moments when everything feels big. Too big. The goal, the dream, the project, the next step… it all piles up until your brain just quietly whispers, “Nope.”

And then what happens?

You wait.
You overthink.
You scroll.
You reorganize something that absolutely did not need reorganizing. Truth, my sock drawer is an amazing feat of organization (No judgment. We’ve all alphabetized a spice rack instead of chasing a dream at least once.)

This idea of starting before you’re ready is echoed in personal development research, including insights from James Clear, who emphasizes that small, consistent actions are what lead to lasting change.

 

Why We Feel Stuck in the First Place

Feeling stuck usually isn’t about laziness. It’s about being overwhelmed. We look at the finish line instead of the next step. We think we need the perfect plan, the perfect energy, the perfect moment. That’s a huge mistake!

But here’s the truth:

You don’t need perfect. You need movement.

That’s where this quote shifts everything.

Start With What You Have

Robert Collier doesn’t say “wait until you’re ready.” He doesn’t say “when everything lines up.”

He says: start now… with what you already have. It’s not about having more time, more money or more confidence

What you have. Today.

Maybe that looks like:

• Writing one messy paragraph instead of a perfect chapter
• Posting one blog instead of planning a full content calendar
• Creating one resource instead of building an entire store

Small steps feel almost too simple. That’s why we underestimate them.

But small steps are sneaky. They build momentum.

3 Simple Changes to Help You Start When You Feel Stuck

If getting started feels impossible, try these three simple shifts. They’re small, but they work.

1. Start Smaller Than You Think You Should

We get stuck because we aim too big at the beginning. Instead of writing a chapter, write a paragraph. Instead of building a full plan, take one step. Small starts remove pressure and make action easier.

2. Use What You Already Have

Stop waiting for better tools, more time, or perfect conditions. Look at what’s already in front of you and begin there. Progress doesn’t come from having everything. It comes from using something.

3. Take Action Before You Feel Ready

Clarity and confidence don’t show up first. They follow action. When you move, even imperfectly, you create momentum. And momentum is what carries you forward.

 

Action Creates Clarity

Here’s the part I love most about this mindset: clarity doesn’t come before action. It comes because of action. When you start, even imperfectly, things begin to shift.

Ideas show up.
Connections form.
Confidence grows.

It’s like turning on a flashlight in a dark room. You don’t see everything at once, but you see enough to take the next step. And that’s important. You don’t have to look to the end, look to the next step. It’s the same way when you start to feel stuck. Just do one thing.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your writing, this might help you too: What to Write When You Have Nothing to Write.

Psychology research also supports this idea. Taking action helps reduce overwhelm and builds momentum over time, a concept explored in studies on behavior and motivation shared by Psychology Today.

 

The Way Opens As You Go

This is the magic part of the quote.

The way opens as you go.

Not before, not after, as you go! You don’t need the whole map. You just need the next step. And then the next one after that. Progress isn’t loud or flashy most of the time. It’s quiet. Steady. Sometimes even a little boring. But it works. When I was a kid I used to watch a Christmas special (okay I still watch it every year) and it had a song about putting one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door. That’s all you need to do, take that first step, and that’s how to start when you feel stuck. With that first step.

If You Need Permission, This Is It

Start before you feel ready. Start when it’s messy. Start when you’re not sure it will work. Because doing something, anything, begins to free you from that stuck feeling. And once you’re moving? You’re already winning.

A Simple Next Step

Before you leave this page, ask yourself one question:

What is one small thing I can do today with what I already have?

Not tomorrow, not when life calms down, but today, right now. Do that one thing.

And watch what starts to open next.