Overcoming Productivity Blocks
Feeling stuck and unable to move forward on important tasks?
You’re not alone. Many high-performing professionals find themselves paralyzed by mental blocks that make even simple tasks feel insurmountable. Today, I’m sharing the story of a client I’ll call Jordan (name and details changed for privacy) and their journey to overcoming resistance and embracing resilience.
The Struggle: Resistance to Daily Tasks
Jordan is a skilled professional whose client base had recently grown significantly. While this was a positive development, it also brought new challenges. Jordan found themselves unable to complete critical daily tasks—particularly administrative work—because of a persistent mental block. The most pressing issue? Paperwork that piled up, creating stress and a sense of falling behind.
Here’s how the block manifested:
Procrastination: Jordan avoided tasks by distracting themselves with less important activities.
Self-criticism: An internal voice continually reinforced the idea that they were failing by not keeping up.
Overwhelm: The growing workload felt impossible to tackle, leading to paralysis.
The Approach: Brainspotting and Emotional Processing
During our session, we used Brainspotting, a technique that combines somatic and mindfulness practices to access and process unresolved emotions. Here’s how we worked together:
Acknowledging the Block: Jordan described the resistance as a tension between their shoulders. This sensation served as an anchor point for the session, helping them stay present with the emotions tied to their avoidance.
Exploring Emotional Vulnerability: As we stayed with the physical sensation, Jordan identified feelings of vulnerability and uncertainty. They described a crouched, protective posture in their mind’s eye, symbolizing their need for safety in the face of overwhelming tasks.
Revisiting a Safe Space: I guided Jordan to visualize a safe space they had experienced in the past. This practice helped them reconnect with a sense of security and resilience, offering a counterbalance to the tension and fear.
Embracing Resilience: We worked with the simple but profound realization: “If I fall down, I can get back up again.” Jordan described this mantra as deeply empowering, a reminder that mistakes and setbacks are part of progress.
The Results: A Shift Toward Action and Confidence
After the session, Jordan committed to a few intentional practices to sustain the progress:
Daily visualization: Revisiting their safe space and the “fall down, get back up” mantra every morning.
Self-compassion: Replacing self-criticism with gratitude for supportive people in their life.
Small, actionable steps: Tackling one progress note at a time rather than focusing on the entire backlog.
Two weeks later, Jordan shared how these changes had impacted their day-to-day:
Clearing the backlog: By focusing on one task at a time, Jordan made significant progress on their overdue paperwork.
Newfound resilience: The “fall down, get back up” mantra became a touchstone, helping Jordan stay motivated even on difficult days.
Improved focus: The tension between their shoulders had diminished, and tasks felt less overwhelming.
Why This Matters
Jordan’s story illustrates how addressing the emotions underlying resistance can lead to profound changes in productivity and mindset. Mental blocks aren’t just about willpower—they’re often tied to deeper feelings of fear, vulnerability, or perfectionism. By working through these emotions with Brainspotting, it’s possible to reconnect with resilience and take actionable steps forward.
Ready to Tackle What’s Holding You Back?
If you’re feeling stuck and overwhelmed by tasks or mental blocks, Brainspotting can help you uncover the root causes and create a clear path to progress. Let’s work together to turn resistance into resilience and rediscover your momentum.
Click here to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward achieving your goals.