Stuck Point Patterns

By now you’ve worked through a few blocks using the specificity question and the handle-schedule-release process. Those are reactive tools — they help when you’re already stuck.

This lesson is about going proactive. You get stuck in patterns, and patterns are predictable. Predictable means preventable.

Where You Always Get Stuck

Think back over the last few months. Where did forward motion stop? Not just once — where does it keep stopping?

Maybe you always stall at the same phase of a project. The beginning is exciting, the middle is fine, but as soon as you can see the finish line you freeze. Or maybe you’re great at starting and terrible at the messy middle. Or you do excellent work alone but seize up the moment collaboration is required.

These aren’t random. They’re your stuck point patterns. And they repeat because the underlying cause hasn’t been addressed.

Types of Blocks

Most recurring blocks fall into a few categories:

Decision blocks. You stall because you can’t choose. Multiple options, unclear criteria, fear of choosing wrong. The pattern: gather more information, analyze longer, wait for certainty that never comes.

Skill blocks. You hit the edge of what you know how to do, and instead of acknowledging the gap, you spin. The pattern: try the same approaches repeatedly, get frustrated, conclude the problem is harder than it is.

Emotional blocks. Something about the next step triggers fear, shame, vulnerability, or discomfort. The pattern: suddenly find other “urgent” things to do. Productive procrastination — busy but not on the thing that matters.

Attention blocks. Unresolved problems from other areas of life are consuming your bandwidth. The pattern: sit down to work, can’t focus, conclude you need more discipline or motivation.

Resource blocks. You genuinely lack something — time, money, a specific tool, another person’s input. The pattern: wait passively instead of actively solving the resource gap.

Knowing your type helps because each type has a different solution. Decision blocks need criteria and deadlines. Skill blocks need learning or delegation. Emotional blocks need to be worked through. Attention blocks need the handle-schedule-release method. Resource blocks need resourcefulness.

Your Signature Block

Most people have a signature block — the one type they hit most often. It’s usually tied to their deeper patterns.

Perfectionists tend toward decision blocks. They can’t choose because nothing is perfect enough. Creative types tend toward skill blocks at the implementation phase — they can envision but struggle to execute. People who grew up in chaotic environments often hit emotional blocks around vulnerability or visibility. Overthinkers live in attention blocks because their minds won’t stop processing.

Knowing your signature block is like knowing your blind spot while driving. You can’t eliminate it, but you can check for it deliberately. When forward motion stops, check your signature block first. Odds are, it’s the one.

Today’s Practice

Map your five most common stuck points. For each one:

Where does it happen? (What type of work, what phase, what context?)

What’s the pattern? (What do you typically do when you hit this block?)

What type of block is it? (Decision, skill, emotional, attention, or resource?)

What would prevent it from forming in the first place? Or if it can’t be prevented, what resolves it fastest?

Write these down. Keep them somewhere accessible. Next time you hit a wall, check this list before you do anything else. Odds are you’ll recognize the pattern — and already have the answer.