Sometimes, it makes sense to quit a creative project, but othertimes, that's not an option. Maybe you need to turn inyour thesis to complete your degree program, or finish aclient project to maintain your professional reputation, orput up your portfolio so you can apply for jobs. You want tocut your losses and move on—maybe even pretend itnever happened.

But in reality, you can't move forward professionally untilyou get out of your head and into action.

If you find yourself feeling like a victim to a creativeproject, follow these steps to empower yourself. I've seenthem work with time coaching clients around the world, and Ibelieve they can help you break the inertia and seereal progress—starting now.

Take ownership, and stop the blame game

When you feel like the victim of your circumstances, youspend copious amounts of time blaming everything and everyonearound you. Although it may feel good to vent about yourstupid computer or annoying degree requirements, this attitudewon't get you anywhere.

Instead, you need to go back to the point at which you didmake a choice such as when you signed up for the mastersprogram, took on the client project, or decided to pursue anartistic career. Then accept the fact that whatever projectyou need to finish now is a natural consequence of yourdecisions, not some unreasonable burden placed upon you.(Except for a few instances of extreme familial pressure,almost everyone can trace back their current situation to somepoint at which they did make an autonomous choice.) Afteryou've come to terms with the fact that you are responsiblefor where you find yourself now, you can stop brooding andreplace the thought, “Woe is me!” with the question, “What canI do to move forward?”

Acknowledge avoidance and focus on moving forward

Once you've shifted your mindset from that of a victim tothat of a self-determining individual, you need to dosomething about your actions. People operating in the victimmode have a tendency to fill their schedules witheverything but what they say is mostimportant. This avoidance through busyness allows them tojustify their lack of progress.

Common traps include seemingly “productive” activities likemaintaining a spotless inbox that gives you a surface-levelfeeling of control and some quick positive feedback but is athinly veiled cover up for the fact that you have hugegaps in your effectiveness. If this sounds like you, gethonest about how you spend your hours so that you “don't havetime” for what you actually need to do. ReadElizabeth Grace Saunders' complete 99u.com article.