Five Reasons You're Not Taking Action (and What to Do Instead)
“Don’t wait until you feel ready. It rarely works that way.” ~ Steven Pressfield
I imagine you want to take action on the things that matter to you.
And I'd wager that there are often times you don't.
Not because you’re lazy. Not because you don’t care. But because you're human.
This is one of the most frequent threads in my coaching. I work with a lot of people who know what they want to do and find themselves frustrated when they're not doing it.
It got me thinking about the deeper patterns that show up when people say they want something, and yet don’t move towards it.
Here are five reasons you might not be taking action (even when you really want to).
1. The task is too vague.
It’s hard to take action when you’re not exactly sure what you’re doing. “Work on my website” or “Sort out my life” are not actions; they’re sprawling, shapeless intentions that can activate overwhelm before you even begin.
And then there's how much time to allocate to it. It's easy to equate how you feel about a task (reluctant, scared, confused) with how much time it will require so you can easily overestimate the amount of time required.
Instead of thinking of your task as a big abstract goal, try creating a clear, bounded container. What might A Next Step be? What would make it feel more real or doable? Give it shape. Give it a clear time-frame (probably less time than you think).
Bonus: If you’re a cyclical creature, time-block your action for when you’re most resourced, not when you’re in a dip.
2. You’re scared of being uncomfortable.
Of course you are. Welcome to the human condition. We seem to have nervous systems focused on keeping you safe, not fulfilled. Nervous systems that seek comfort and predictability, not uncertainty and stretch.
But growth happens in discomfort. Every meaningful action involves some risk: of failure, of visibility, of change.
That discomfort isn’t a sign you’re doing it wrong. It’s a sign you’re expanding.
Try staying with the sensation. Where is it in your body? What shape or colour does it have? Can you hold it with curiosity, even kindness?
3. You're caught in perfectionism.
Perfectionism isn’t the pursuit of excellence. It’s about fear of judgement, of shame, of not being enough.
It’s paralysing because it convinces you that the only acceptable outcome is flawless, so it’s safer to do nothing at all.
But here’s the truth: B- work can still change someone’s life. The perfect blog post you never publish won’t help anyone.
Give yourself permission to begin. Crappy first drafts. Wobbly experiments. Imperfect attempts. That’s where real momentum lives.
4. You’re not emotionally connected to why it matters.
Sometimes you can think you should do something, but your body isn’t on board. It doesn’t feel urgent, exciting, or aligned.
This often happens when you’ve absorbed other people’s goals or internalised expectations that aren’t truly yours. If the task feels dry or lifeless, pause and ask: Is this mine? Why does this matter to me?
Connect it to something bigger, not productivity for its own sake, but the kind of presence, connection, or contribution you actually want.
Want more clarity on what truly matters to you? Redefine success with me.
5. You're trying to do it alone.
Hollywood loves the myth of the self-sufficient action-taker. But the truth is, accountability, resonance, and support matter, especially when you’re doing something hard or vulnerable.
Maybe what you need isn’t more willpower. Maybe it’s someone to witness your intention, help you name the next step, or remind you you’re not broken.
None of this is about fixing yourself. It’s about understanding your patterns so you can meet them with compassion and creativity.
So, what do you want to move toward this week? And how could you make it a little easier to begin?
If you want support with that, this is the kind of thing we explore inside Reimagine, with curiosity, humour, and a lot of humanity.
You're allowed to want what you want. Let’s figure out how to help you act on it.