I had every intention of writing this article yesterday morning. And then again, last night. And then this morning. But my team needed me, I had some fires to put out, and frankly, I just didn't feel like doing it.

When I finally sat down to write, I realized what was happening: procrastination was rearing its head. Or, as I like to call it, “Fear in Overalls.” Procrastination is a type of fear that is well-intentioned but lacks consistent follow-through and is easy to slip. It's the part of us that says, “It's okay, I can do this later, I'm not really in the mood, I'm waiting for inspiration to strike.”

As a bestselling author of three books and a writing mentor who has supported thousands, I've learned a thing or two about why we don't start or finish projects—why ideas push us for years but rarely see the light of day.

If I'm backing a founder with a track record of success, a New York Times best-selling author, or an aspiring writer just picking up the pen, creative blocks plague us all. Through my work, I have identified three types of creative blocks and how to overcome them.

Creative Block #1: Procrastination – “I'll do this later after I do that other thing.”

You're probably reading this right now to avoid something else you need or want to do. If so, you may be dealing with procrastination. But before you sit down, let's take a closer look at the real cause. Contrary to what many of us were taught, procrastination is not a sign that we are lazy, weak or lack motivation. Procrastination, from a psychological perspective, is also a survival function.

When we are stressed, overwhelmed, burned out, or facing some perceived threat—which might be, “I really want this to go well, but the outcome is uncertain,” or “I want to decide myself there, but I'm not sure how it's going to be taken,” – our nervous system goes into a fight/flight/freeze response. In other words: we procrastinate.

Understanding the science of this can help us have compassion for ourselves—and others—and also decide what to do about it.

I learned about “micro-yes” from my friend Britt Frank, a neuropsychotherapist and author of The Science of Grip. A micro-yes is the next smallest step you can take – one step so small, it seems almost ridiculous to call it “a step”.

So if you want to write an article but are stuck – like me – the next micro-po is NO plan an hour to write. This can freak out your nervous system and send you into further delays. In my case, my micro-pos were:

1. Take my shower on the chair.
2. Write a bad sentence.
3. Write another one.

And voila, the brain stopped perceiving threats, my nervous system was more regulated, and I got the item out. I was on my way, and micro-yeses will help you keep going too.

Creative Block #2: Perfectionism – “This isn't good enough.”

If procrastination is “fear in baggy pants,” perfectionism is, as Elizabeth Gilbert put it, “fear in nice clothes.” Of all the blocks out there, perfectionism—and the pressure to be great right away—is the one that will stop a project dead in its tracks before it ever has a chance to flourish.

When I got my first book deal, my publisher asked me if I could write the book in three months. As crazy as it sounds, my book was titled Choose Wonder over Anxietyso instead of worrying about how unrealistic that deadline seemed, I asked myself: I wonder how I can do this?

I cleared my calendar, flew around the world for a writing retreat, and then, as I sat down to write, I found myself paralyzed by a voice inside my head ringing out every ten seconds to tell me, “That's a sentence too Bad .”

After consulting a mentor (and nearly passing out), I was reminded that there is no such thing as a great first draft. In fact, my goal was to become a “bad writer” and write terrible first drafts so that I could get to the stage of having so-so second drafts and better third drafts.

This strategy helped me finish my book—and it's one that has helped many others in my signature writing workshop. In the face. Revision is essential and will strengthen your work – but first you need to reduce those “pen miles”.

Creative Block #3: Imposter Syndrome – “Who am I to call myself a writer? Shall I find out?”

If procrastination is “fear in slacks” and perfectionism is “fear in nice clothes”, then impostor syndrome is “fear of hiding”.

Whenever you're putting yourself out there, or trying something new, there will be people who are more experienced, more knowledgeable, or more familiar than you. It's a simple fact of life. Whether you're just starting out in your career, or have decades of accolades, there's always the fear that people who have achieved more will say: You don't know what you're talking about or, who are you to think you can do this?

In fact, sometimes the more successful you are and the more you've accomplished, the more likely you are to experience imposter syndrome. It's like the old saying attributed to Aristotle: “The more I know, the more I know that I don't know.” For example, I have a client who received a significant book deal on a subject on which she is a world-renowned expert. She has been featured in dozens of publications, she has a thriving business in her field, and her book is a vehicle to make her message more accessible to more people. And yet, in one of our phone calls, she shared with me: “I hope to call myself a writer one day.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well, I'm not a writer like those other writers,” she said. “Maybe if the book is a huge success.”

That's where impostor syndrome thrives: between inner doubt and the belief that external evaluations will prove us worthy. And the most brutal part of impostor syndrome is that even if we achieve our vision of “ultimate success,” it's still not enough.

So what to do about it? The solution to imposter syndrome is twofold:

1. Notice the critical voice inside your head that says, I'm not enough, I'll be found out, I don't deserve this, I need to work harder to prove myself — and remember that voice is an old and harmful story that you don't need to buy anymore. Notice, remember that it's not you, and as uncomfortable as it may feel, choose a more empowering narrative, such as: I am already enough.
2. Celebrate the progress you make already done—including mistakes. Focus on what you are learning, how you are growing, what you value and what is meaningful to you. Don't get caught up in what you will have to achieve “one day” in order to finally achieve it. You have already arrived.

I know that dealing with blocks can be frustrating. But once we name what we are experiencing, we can more easily recognize it and then respond to it differently. Creative blocks are challenges, yes, but they have science-backed solutions. Sometimes it starts with our sitting really high personal expectations, rolling up your sleeves and having some faith in the process.