We were just talking about this, the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. You can spot your roadblocks, and you can make the mindset shift, but then nothing moves. It’s so frustrating.
We get it. For me, getting stuck looks like moving the same task to tomorrow, again and again, for months. I’ll be consistent in everything else, but that one thing just sits there. And Laurie has had those more obvious moments where she’s felt down or overwhelmed.
Here’s the truth we keep learning. Feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It’s usually a sign you need some clarity, or you need some support. Usually both.
The world tells you to buckle down and work harder. But we think you might just need a better plan for support, what we call a soulful accountability plan.
And listen, this isn’t about someone else holding you accountable. Nobody can do that. You hold yourself accountable. But you can let other people help you do it.
So, from our conversation, here’s what that really looks like. This is the how after the what’s wrong.
1. Name What’s Actually Stuck
Get specific. Don’t say “my business.” Look for the thing you keep avoiding.
For me, it was finding a formatter for my Bible study. For weeks, I just moved that task. I was stuck because I didn’t know how to solve that one piece.
You have to name it. Say it out loud: “I’m stuck on sending the pitch emails,” or “I’m stuck because writing the sales page feels too big.” Write that down. That’s your starting line.
Naming it takes the power out of it. It’s just a thing on paper now, not a monster in your head. You can pray over it. You can look at it and say, “Okay, that’s the thing. Now what?”
Sometimes we’re afraid to name it because then we have to deal with it. But naming it is the first step to dealing with it in a way that doesn’t feel so scary.
2. Find Your One Safe Person
This is the most important part. This person is not a coach or a boss. They are a safe harbor.
Think about who you can be a mess around. Who listens without making you feel small? It might be another business friend, or it might be your mom, or a friend from church who’s just a really good encourager. You don’t need an expert. You need a kind heart.
Then, you just tell them the thing you named. Say, “Hey, I’m stuck on this. Can I tell you about it and check back in next week?” That’s it. You’re inviting them in.
It feels scary to ask. But what I’ve found is that most people are honored you trusted them. You’re not dumping work on them. You’re just saying, “Walk with me in this.” It makes all the difference.
This is how you build the kind of community that doesn’t just happen online. It’s a real, personal connection for your real, personal work.
3. Make Your Check-in Stupid Simple
If this feels like a formal report, you’ll hate it and avoid it. It should be as easy as a text, a quick voice note, or a five-minute call. Your script is two sentences: “Here’s one thing I did. Here’s where I’m stuck or unsure.” You’re not giving a progress report. You’re sharing your human experience. The goal is connection, not evaluation.
Laurie and I do this. It’s not a meeting. It’s a heartbeat. The magic is in the rhythm, not in a long talk. It keeps you honest. It keeps you from pretending you’re fine when you’re not.
And on the weeks you have a win, it gives you someone to celebrate with who actually knows what it took to get there. That’s a gift.
4. Let Them Ask You The Kind Question
When you’re stuck in your own head, you ask yourself awful questions like, “What’s wrong with me?” A good companion asks the gentle question that helps you see forward.
This is what we do for each other. When Laurie sees me procrastinating, she asks, “What’s making that hard to start?” When I see her overwhelmed, I might ask, “Is that project too big? What’s the very first part?”
They’re not solving it for you. They’re handing you a flashlight. That question helps you stop spinning and just see the next step. Usually, you already know what it is. You just needed someone to ask.
We call these “flashlight questions.” They don’t shine a spotlight on your failure. They just light up the next inch of the path so you can take one step. That’s all you need.
5. Build The Grace In Before You Need It
If your plan doesn’t have grace, it’s just shame in disguise. You will have bad weeks. Life will happen. So you decide right now what grace looks like. Tell your person: “If I drop the ball, please don’t ask me why I failed. Just ask me, ‘What’s the next right step?’”
This changes everything. It gives your plan a reset button instead of a trap door. It makes it sustainable.
We have to do this. Without it, one bad week makes you want to quit the whole plan. With it, a stumble is just a pause. You get to try again. That’s how you build something that lasts.
Grace is what makes a plan soulful. It’s the difference between a system that uses you and a system that serves you and the people you’re called to serve.
Your Next Step
We learn and we do. That’s our thing. So to help you do this, we have our free Unstuck Action Plan PDF. It walks you through this, helping you name what’s stuck and build this exact kind of grace-filled support.
Our prayer is that you find a way to follow through that feels supported, not heavy. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being connected to your own calling and to someone who can help you see it clearly on the foggy days.
That kind of support is not meant to be carried alone, which is why we keep an open community where this gentle, grace-filled way of doing business is practiced together. Without that kind of support, how do you keep your head above water? We don’t know.
Start by naming your one stuck thing. We’re praying you find your safe person.
We’re right here with you.
