What’s Blocking You Might Be Speaking to You

A fresh way to think about the emotions that stop us in our tracks

Sometimes mental blocks are harder to get around than barricades!

The other day I had to send in a quick headshot. Nothing fancy—just me, a white wall, and a deadline.

But I froze.

Thoughts spiraled through my head…

“Do I look tired?”
“My teeth aren’t white enough.”
“Why didn’t I drop five pounds first?”

It took me hours to send that one little photo.

It wasn’t just about appearance—it was about avoidance.

It wasn’t vanity. It was a block.

So… what is a block, really?

A block is a moment where something stops you from moving forward. You hit a wall and either retreat, distract, or shrink.

It shows up as perfectionism. Procrastination. Harsh self-talk. Avoidance.

And here’s the kicker:

The more energy we spend reinforcing the block, the less we have to grow, create, or heal.

You know this feeling, right?

You have big goals—better energy, balanced hormones, restful sleep. But then a moment hits, and your thoughts spiral:

“I’m not ready.”
“I always mess this up.”
“I don’t have time for this.”

And suddenly, you’re frozen.

“You can choose courage or you can choose comfort. But you cannot choose both.”

—Brené Brown

Our blocks masquerade as comfort.

But really, they cost us. In time. In confidence. In joy.

Neuroscience agrees: what we focus on, grows.

According to Nature Reviews Neuroscience, our brains build stronger connections based on what we repeatedly think about. So when we focus on fear, self-doubt, or comparison, those pathways get reinforced.

But when we pause and choose curiosity instead of criticism—we disrupt the loop. We plant seeds for something new.

Blocks aren’t flaws. They’re messages.

In that selfie moment, what I really needed wasn’t a filter or a retake.

Kristin Whitaker, Master Nutrition Therapist--smiling authentically, a reminder that healing begins with self-compassion — Here it is, the Selfie I was so afraid to take. I lived!

I needed to remind myself that my worth doesn’t change based on a photo. I needed to speak to myself like I would speak to a friend—with grace.

I didn’t want to be paralyzed by my portrait-phobia and constantly at war with my looks. I want to be proud in my body and confident in my smile. I snapped the shot. I didn’t edit or filter or stall. I took a deep breath and hit send.

In my case, I needed to remind myself I love being me. I needed to do a confidence check. I needed to find my smile so the one in the picture didn’t feel fake. I

Maybe this scenario isn’t relatable to you, but that’s okay. The emotional messages our bodies send us are personal and only we can decode them. The point is the process.

The trick is to listen with the intent to heal.

And this is exactly what I see in the moms I work with:

A nap isn’t lazy—it’s your body fighting inflammation.
That snack wasn’t weakness—it was emotional depletion.
Feeling stuck isn’t failure—it’s a sign you’re overwhelmed and overextended.

Your emotional blocks aren’t the enemy. They’re invitations. Personal messaging.

So what do we do when we hit a block?

Try this:

Notice it. What’s really going on under the surface?
Ask yourself: What do I need right now?
Shift gently. Choose one small step that honors your truth instead of your fear.

Even one change in the way we talk to ourselves can start dissolving the block.

Imagine if your next stuck moment became a turning point.

This is the deep work I do with my clients—not just changing habits, but shifting patterns.

Not just managing symptoms, but listening to what they’re trying to say.

If your body, your heart, or your habits feel heavy right now—there’s something to hear. And I’d be honored to help you tune in.

👉 Book a free discovery call and let’s start decoding the blocks that have been holding you back.

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s untangle the mess we’re in rather than nesting in it. Let’s turn our blocks into stepping stones.

It's Not a Block, It's a Stepping Stone