We’ve all had moments where we pause and ask ourselves, “Why isn’t this moving the way I expected?”
The vision is clear. The desire is strong. And yet, progress feels slow—sometimes non-existent.
That tension you’re feeling? That’s the gap.
The space between what could be and what is.
📍 The Gap Is Normal—And Necessary
Let me say this early on: having a gap doesn’t mean you’re failing.
In fact, it’s often a sign that you’re aiming higher than your current reality—and that’s a good thing. It means you’re growing. It means you can see something better, something more aligned with your purpose. The problem isn’t the gap. The problem is getting stuck in it.
I’ve been there. There was a stretch of time where I felt like I was doing all the right things—but not getting anywhere. The momentum I expected just wasn’t showing up. That’s when I realised: I hadn’t fully defined what progress looked like, so I didn’t know how to measure it.
Some gaps push us to stretch. Others slowly become places we settle into without realising it. We tell ourselves, “This is just how things are for now,” and suddenly ‘for now’ becomes permanent.
🪞 The Gap Has Many Faces
Sometimes we don’t even notice the gap because we’ve been busy doing so much. But busyness isn’t the same as progress. You could be working hard and still be stuck in the same place year after year.
Other times, we notice the gap—but we have no idea what to do about it.
We feel frustrated, even embarrassed, because it seems like everyone else is figuring things out while we’re spinning in circles.
So what do we do?
First, we need to understand what kind of gap we’re dealing with.
⚖️ Healthy Gaps vs. Harmful Gaps
There’s such a thing as a healthy gap. It’s the space where you’re preparing, building, refining. It’s where you’re doing the quiet work nobody sees—reading, learning, developing habits, building trust. That kind of gap has movement in it, even if it’s not yet visible on the outside.
But then there are harmful gaps—spaces where we’re stuck in delay, indecision, fear, or denial. These gaps don’t build bridges—they build excuses.
The challenge is being honest about which one you’re in.
🧠 What Causes the Gap?
Here are three common reasons:
1. You haven’t defined “there” clearly.
Sometimes, you feel stuck simply because your goal is too vague. You say you want “growth” or “success,” but what does that actually look like in real terms? Without clarity, movement becomes guesswork.
2. You’ve become too comfortable with ‘almost.’
You’ve made some progress. Things are okay. But deep down, you know they could be so much better. You’re not in crisis—but you’re also not fulfilled.
3. You’re overwhelmed by how far there is to go.
You look at where you want to be, and it feels miles away. The size of the journey discourages you from even starting. And so, nothing moves.
🛠 A Simple Way to Get Unstuck: Name the Gap
Take a moment to pause. Choose one area—your work, a personal goal, a relationship, anything—and write down:
- Where am I right now?
- Where do I truly want to be?
- What’s standing in the way?
You’d be surprised how powerful it is just to see the gap in writing. It turns something vague into something you can begin to work with.
🚶🏽 Progress Is Built, Not Wished Into Being
You don’t need to leap across the whole gap. You just need to move.
Sometimes the first step is making a phone call.
Sometimes it’s opening that book you’ve avoided.
Sometimes it’s being honest with yourself for the first time in a long while.
One step starts the bridge.
🧭 Final Thoughts
You may not be where you thought you’d be by now—but that’s okay. The fact that you’re still thinking about the vision is proof that it matters to you.
The gap doesn’t mean you’re off track. It just means there’s more to build. More to learn. More to become. And the best part? You don’t have to stay where you are.
Bridges are built in stages. Just begin.
✍🏾 Reflection Exercise:
Grab a journal or open a blank note. Ask yourself:
- What area of my life or business feels stuck?
- Where do I want it to be?
- What’s one thing I can do this week to take a step forward?
Even a small step is movement—and movement matters.
