Have you ever set out to achieve something—a creative project, a career shift, a wellness goal—only to find yourself stuck in a cycle of delay, doubt, and inaction?

You tell yourself you need more time, better conditions, or the perfect plan. But deep down, you know the real issue isn’t lack of time or talent—it’s something deeper.

I recently uncovered five resistance patterns that have been quietly preventing my own progress, and if you recognize yourself in these, you’re not alone. These are the Five Patterns of Resistance, and once you name them, you can start dismantling them.

Perfectionism: The Fear of Not Being “Good Enough”

How It Holds You Back:
Perfectionism convinces you that if something isn’t flawless, it’s not worth doing. It tricks you into believing that mistakes define you and that taking imperfect action is worse than taking no action at all.

How to Shift It:
Instead of striving for perfection, strive for excellence with flexibility. Perfection is a moving target—you’ll never reach it. Progress, however, happens when you allow yourself to iterate, adjust, and improve along the way.

People-Pleasing: The Need for External Validation

How It Holds You Back:
You hesitate to express yourself or your ideas because you fear judgment, criticism, or rejection. You want your work to be valuable, but instead of focusing on your truth, you shape your actions around what others might think.

How to Shift It:
Instead of seeking universal approval, focus on authentic connection. Not everyone will resonate with what you do, and that’s okay. The right people—the ones who align with your message—will.

Procrastination: The Illusion of Waiting for the “Right Time”

How It Holds You Back:
You convince yourself that now isn’t the right time—that you need more research, better conditions, or a clearer plan. Procrastination disguises itself as preparation, but really, it’s fear keeping you from taking action.

How to Shift It:
Instead of waiting for the right time, focus on aligned action. Clarity comes from doing, not from waiting. The conditions will never be perfect, but forward momentum will create the path.

Paralysis: Overthinking That Leads to Inaction

How It Holds You Back:
Unlike procrastination, which is an intentional delay, paralysis is the feeling of being stuck in indecision. Your brain goes into overdrive, analyzing all possible outcomes, which makes even simple decisions feel overwhelming.

How to Shift It:
Instead of seeking absolute certainty, trust in your resilience. You have faced difficult choices before, and you’ve figured it out every single time. You don’t need all the answers—just enough confidence to take the next step.

Pride: The Resistance to Asking for Help

How It Holds You Back:
You believe that you should be able to do it alone. You hesitate to ask for help because you fear looking weak, incapable, or dependent. But the truth is, self-sufficiency isn’t the same as strength.

How to Shift It:
Instead of seeing support as weakness, reframe it as wisdom. The most successful people lean on others, ask for guidance, and surround themselves with those who uplift them. Accepting help isn’t about needing it—it’s about welcoming it.

Breaking Through These Five Patterns

Each of these patterns keeps you in a loop of inaction, self-doubt, or hesitation. But when you name them, you take away their power.

So, here’s my challenge to you: Which of these five patterns shows up most in your life?

• Are you delaying launching an idea because it’s not yet perfect?
• Are you hesitating to take action because you fear judgment?
• Are you waiting for the right time instead of just starting?
• Are you stuck in overthinking mode?
• Are you resisting help because you feel you should be able to do it alone?

Awareness is the first step. Action is the second.

Closing Thought

You are already capable, creative, and strong. The only thing standing between you and your next step? The belief that you aren’t ready.

But you are. Start now.