Sep. 18, 2025 - What’s Really Stopping You? Peel Back the Layers and Move Forward
Discover the hidden obstacles keeping you stuck - and how one small action can start changing everything! 🚀
You’ve got a goal you’ve been holding onto for weeks, months, maybe even years. You care about it. You want it. And yet… something keeps getting in the way!
Sometimes the obstacles are obvious. You can point to the economy, your workload, or the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day ⏳. But often, the real blockers are hidden under layers (like an onion 🧅) making it hard to see what’s truly stopping you.
Today, I’d like to invite you to pause, reflect, and start peeling back those layers to uncover the real challenge… and take one small step toward the life and career you want.
Envisioning Your Goal
Think of one goal you truly want to achieve but haven’t made much progress toward. It could be in your career, personal growth, health - anything that matters deeply to you.
Now imagine you’ve achieved it. It doesn’t matter when - just picture yourself there!
- How does it feel to have reached it?
- What’s changed in your life?
Let yourself experience that moment vividly, like stepping into a room filled with light 💡 after being in the shadows. Jot down a few words or sentences that capture the feelings and changes.
The First Layer of Obstacles
Come back to the present moment. You haven’t reached that goal yet. Ask yourself: What are the first obstacles that come to mind?
These are often things outside your control: the economy, the system, limited time, lack of resources. They’re valid challenges, but they’re usually just the outer skin of the onion.
Write them down without judgment. Whatever comes to mind belongs on the page.
“Many people discover their first answers sound convincing… until they realize they’re only scratching the surface.”
Going Deeper
Imagine setting aside those initial obstacles. What other barriers show up - like those linked to your relationship with others?
Perhaps you think, “I don’t have the right connections,” or “No one in my field knows who I am or what I can offer.”
Capture these thoughts as they come. Even if they don’t seem to fit perfectly with the question, write them down - they’re surfacing for a reason.
Reaching the Inner Layers
Keep peeling. Soon, you might hit the point where the onion makes you cry 🥲. These are the obstacles that are purely about you!
- Fear of failure.
- Fear of speaking up.
- Doubts about whether you’re ready, capable, or “enough.”
They can be uncomfortable to admit, but they often hold the most power over your progress. Write them down honestly - this is for your eyes only.
A Quick Personal Note
When I did this reflection for myself, I started with “the market is too saturated” and “there are so many other coaches out there.” But by the third layer, I realized I was holding back because I was afraid my workshop idea wouldn’t be different enough to stand out.
That wasn’t an easy truth to face - but it’s the one that moved me forward.
Choosing a Core Obstacle
Look at your list. Choose one obstacle to focus on - ideally one from the deeper layers.
Ask yourself: What would need to happen for this obstacle to be resolved? These events may or may not be under your control. You may or may not already have the resources or knowledge to make them happen. That’s fine - this is simply about doing a brain dump of ideas!
Write freely. Don’t filter for “realistic” or “possible” just yet.
Moving Toward Action
From the list of events you’ve brainstormed, pick one and explore what you could do to help it happen. Again, capture all ideas - big or small.
Now, choose one of those ideas and think about what you can do today to start making progress on it. This might be a first step, a small experiment, or something that builds momentum over time. The key is that it’s something you can begin now - not next month, not “someday” ✅.
“One small action often shifts more than you expect - because it proves to you that forward motion is possible.”
Imagining the Two Paths
Picture yourself at the end of the year.
In one version, you’ve taken that action - and others after it - and you’ve made real progress toward your goal. How does that feel? What’s changed for you?
In the other version, you haven’t taken action, and nothing much has shifted. How does that feel?
Decide which version you prefer. There’s no right or wrong answer - only the truth for you.
Why Reflection Alone Isn’t Always Enough
Exercises like this are powerful. They bring clarity, shift your perspective, and remind you that you do have influence over your progress.
But even with the best intentions, life can quickly take over. That’s why support and accountability can be game-changers. You can do this reflection on your own - and I encourage you to - but in my workshops and coaching sessions, we often uncover layers you didn’t even realize were there. You leave with momentum you didn’t think was possible.
The Power of Reflection, Perspective, and Self-Leadership
Peeling back the layers of what’s stopping you isn’t just a problem-solving exercise - it’s an act of self-leadership 💪.
Reflection gives you clarity.
Perspective gives you choice.
Self-leadership turns that choice into momentum.
Make space to do this kind of reflection regularly. And when you want to go further, faster, and with more confidence, reach out for the right support.
Your goal isn’t as far away as it seems - the next layer you peel back might be the one that unlocks it 🔑.
Stay Connected and Keep Moving Forward
If you’d like to keep reflecting, learning, and taking action, here are three ways we can stay in touch:
🌱 Easiest option: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for coaching-based tips and prompts to help you keep moving forward.
🎯 A little more involved: Attend an upcoming event and experience a Coaching-Infused Conversation live.
💬 Most intensive: Schedule a call with me to explore how I can help you (or your team) peel back the layers and move toward your goals.
I’m Christelle Soto-Suarez, Self-Leadership Awakener and Executive & Leadership Coach helping mid-level professionals take small but meaningful steps toward a career and life they truly want. Learn more at Pistachio-Cassis Coaching.
