However, when dealing with individuals in graduate schools, those conducting research, or those in the business field, it has been quite helpful to start with this simple triangle and then work into deeper issues of, for example, “am I *good enough* (whichever level you want to take that on) to succeed.” At other times we have found that intentional distractions, and even unintentional distractions, are really alternative ways of engaging the topic at hand.

Let me give an example. At one point a client was intent on completing a specific part of her project. The project was quite large, so she we had helped her to break down the project into manageable chunks in order to work toward her various goals. At one point she found that she felt absolutely stuck. And even with our accountability efforts in place, she wasn’t moving forward. On her next consulting visit we asked what she had been doing instead. As it turned out, she had watched 4 movies rather than complete the project. On the surface this would seem mere distraction - but I wanted to take it a bit further this time. After inquiring as to the *topic* of the movies and the *moral of the story* in each, the client was led to an epiphany. Every movie had the same basic topic, plot, and moral - and all of these had to do with her feelings of being stuck at this particular part of her project. After recognizing this consciously, and engaging in her own *plot* as compared to the characters in the movies, she was able to come to her own resolution and complete that part of her project.

Without going a bit deeper, she would not have likely recognized her connection with those protagonists in the movies nor would she have likely moved forward anytime soon.

In my experience writing my dissertation (a large research project I had to complete in order to graduate with my Ph.D.), there were times that I absolutely fought against the urge to write. I knew that I wanted to write, even that I had to write, but that didn’t help me write. I would either find other things to do, sit and stare at my screen, or write something small then edit it for several hours. These behaviors were entirely unproductive, and did not help me to get to the goal of having a completed piece of work.

During our consulting we have found several ways to overcome writers block. One of my favorites is doing a daily visualization, seeing a set of black bricks building a wall in front of you, each with the word “block” on it. Once the wall has been created, mentally destroy the wall - the way is up to you. Wrecking ball. Bare fists. Laser beams from your eyes. Or seeing it crumble and transform into a lush garden with a pathway in front of you. This practice can also be done by painting real wooden blocks black, then painting the word “block” on it. Build the wall and then break it down. This will instill in your own psyche the ability to break down internal blocks whenever you come up against them. Simple, and it will work for most types of blockages.

There are other exercises, and even a great number of additional resources on the web. Here are a few from a simple search:
10 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Blocks
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/writingroadblocks/a/writersblock.htm

A Creative Way to Get Ideas Down Before the Critic Smashes Those Good Ideas
http://timetowrite.blogs.com/weblog/2007/04/overcoming_writ.html

Good ol’ Wikipedia - With a Section on How to Overcome Writer’s Block
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer’s_block

For the article, just click the link above. For a direct link to Peter Reason’s personal website, including many of the articles he has written click here.

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