I want to write books that help people all over the world, but I fear that I will be overwhelmed by success. I have big dreams and big doubts, and they don’t coexist well together. As a result, I often find myself grappling with creative blocks and stalling on long-term projects. Overwhelmed every step of the way, my mind says that I am not cut out for this, even as my heart keeps calling me to write.

When we are ambivalent, tied up with mixed or conflicting emotions about what we want, our actions reflect our uncertainty. One common way this shows up is procrastination.

Procrastination is less about time management and more about mixed feelings. Think about the callings that are in your heart versus the attitudes that are in your mind and how much they contradict each other. Mixed emotions cause inner conflicts that we’re often not aware of until we feel stuck, or a pattern starts to emerge, forcing us to take a closer look. When we examine these contradictions, we can begin to unravel the self-sabotaging habits that ail us.

Each of us has hidden beliefs that live in the shadow of our conscious awareness. In my example, if I want to write books that help people all over the world, but I have unacknowledged fears about being overwhelmed by success; then my doubt conflicts with my desire and creates an attitude of resistance, making me more likely to avoid the character-building work that is the very foundation of the success I seek.

Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, says “Procrastination is the most common manifestation of resistance because it’s the easiest to rationalize. We don’t tell ourselves, ‘I’m never going to write my symphony.’ Instead we say, ‘I am going to write my symphony; I’m just going to do it tomorrow.’”

With everything we have on our minds each day, it’s no wonder that we avoid our mixed feelings and run to what feels safe and sure by putting off uncomfortable tasks just a little longer. We procrastinate because of our fears about the uncertain process ahead, the ripples that our actions will create.

When we procrastinate, we want the results, but we undervalue the process. The work that we’re avoiding may not have a guaranteed payoff, and our fear seems more demanding in the moment, so it’s easy to forget what’s important long-term.

Our minds are very good at helping us avoid discomfort. It happens so reflexively, that we don’t even realize how we end up organizing files instead of writing, or researching new cars instead of working on that book proposal, or how we convince ourselves that we don’t need to turn off the TV to hear our inner voice clearly.

So how do we change this reflex? How do we become more aware of our hidden inner conflicts and the obstacles they create? How do we override the urge to flee when it’s time to focus? I have found success in one key mental shift.

From Ambivalence to Alignment

We can look up all the productivity tips and hacks that we want, but if we don’t address our underlying inner conflicts, they will just keep showing up again and again.

The key to overcoming procrastination is moving from ambivalence to alignment: learning how to get your feelings, thoughts, words, and actions to work together in harmony instead of being in constant contradiction.

As I stated earlier, procrastination is a symptom of an emotional inner conflict, so this mindset shift needs to address the source instead of the symptom. This same shift from ambivalence to alignment eases perfectionism, imposter syndrome, victim mentality and a slew of other issues that most of us struggle with at some point or another.

After struggling with all of these emotional hang-ups, I asked myself: How do I get my mind in alignment with my heart’s calling when I have such deep-seated resistance? How do I align my actions with my desires instead of my fears?

When I lose my way, it’s my values that provide a well-lit path back home.

My values are my guiding principles, the language of my soul, and when I honor them, life flows naturally. Author and educator Stephen Covey said, “People can’t live with change if there’s not a changeless core inside them. The key to the ability to change is a changeless sense of who you are, what you are about and what you value.”

When it comes to my career, I know that three of my core values are meaningful work, authentic expression, and creativity and that these ideals are intrinsic to my quality of life. Translating these values into concrete behaviors keeps me in alignment with my heart’s calling.

Here’s how you can do it, too.

1 — Identify the inner conflict.

Think about a dream or goal that you want to happen but seems impossible. Get clear on it by physically writing down this desire from your heart, and then write the opposing attitudes (doubts) in your mind.

2 — Reflect on your values.

How does this dream or goal support your personal values and authentic needs? When you look beyond external reasons like status or recognition, why is this desire — and therefore all the tasks associated with it — meaningful to you? You will never follow through if you don’t understand this.

3 — Choose a side.

When it comes to this dream or goal, do you want to align with your doubts or your desires? Your hopes or your fears? What influence do you want to be under? Which choice reflects your values?

4 — Practice new habits.

What specific tools, habits, and patterns of behavior can help you remember this alignment and translate your values into inspired actions? What habits and patterns hurt this alignment and take you further away from your calling?

The Magic of Showing Up

Procrastination is a habit that everyone succumbs to now and then, but we can pause, acknowledge the temporary discomfort, and choose to take action based on what we value most: that changeless core inside.

We are always our most powerful when we are true to ourselves. One of the simplest ways to be true to yourself is to simply show up for what matters to you. Once you identify your inner conflicts, reflect on your values, choose a side, and start practicing new habits; the ambivalence that once held you back will subside, and the alignment you are cultivating will guide you to the next right step for you.