Moving towards a goal seldom follows a straight line. There are obstacles and detours that may force us to question our ability to get to the finish line. If the setbacks keep coming and the path feels increasingly difficult, we may even consider dropping the goal entirely.

This particular circumstance, when we’re weighing the possibility of either pressing on or giving up, is called an “action crisis”. We are conflicted between our desire to accomplish this goal and our readiness for the uncomfortable challenges to be over.