How to Stay Focused on Change When Things Get Tough
Sep 08, 2025By James Marland, Income Flow Consultant for Therapists
I remember the day I decided to start using ClickUp. I was pumped. Ready. Motivated. Finally, I will stay organized and on task.
I had all these beautiful lists, categories, and colors organized. It felt like a fresh start with a system that could handle all my projects in one place. I had big dreams of using it to organize team workflows, track podcast production, and manage all the behind-the-scenes stuff I usually kept in my head or scribbled down on paper.
But then something went sideways.
A project deadline slipped. Client stuff got busy. And when the pressure hit, I didn’t keep going with ClickUp. I went back to what I knew. Paper notes. Scraps. Random to-do lists. It was easier. It felt faster in the moment. It felt safe.
But it wasn’t better.
And that’s the all too common result from hitting a snag when trying to change. When it gets hard, we usually go back to what is familiar, even if it is not helping us grow. That does not mean you failed. That means you need a plan for when change gets hard.
This is exactly what I talked about with Michael Dettrich-Chastain on the Scaling Therapy Practice podcast. Michael is a licensed therapist and leadership consultant. He also runs Arc Integrated, where he helps organizations manage change in practical, sustainable ways.
When Change Gets Hard, This Is What Makes You Quit
Michael shared something that stuck with me.
“We’re always going to be changing. So defining success for ourselves is the secret.”
When I started using ClickUp, I didn’t define success. I just thought, this will help. But that is not a goal. That is a feeling. And when stress shows up, feelings fade fast. That is when we default to our comfort zone.
Michael explained that without a clear definition of success, it is almost impossible to stick with a new habit, tool, or system. We get lost in the middle of the process. We feel like it is not working. And we let it go.
His advice was not to try harder. It was to think differently. Define your win. Know what success looks like. And then structure your support around that.
Michael’s 7 Influencers of Change
Michael has a framework called the 7 Influencers of Change. He uses this with organizations and leaders to help them stay aligned and focused when things get difficult.
Here they are:
- Cognition – how you think about problems
- Heart – your emotional awareness and capacity
- Action – your daily habits and routines
- Nourishment – physical health, including sleep, food, and movement
- Guts – the courage to act when things feel risky
- Environment – your physical and social surroundings
- Spirit – your beliefs, values, and purpose
As we talked through these, two stood out for me right away.
Cognition: What are you thinking?
Michael asked me to define what success with ClickUp actually meant. Not just “it will help,” but specifically what it would do for me.
So I started thinking:
Success means I can track podcast episodes easily.
Success means I can assign tasks to my team.
Success means I do not forget something important when things get busy.
That clarity helps me think about ClickUp not as a tool I should use, but as something connected to my real goals.
Environment: Who is around you?
Then we talked about the environment. Michael said something that hit home:
“Your surroundings may be keeping you stuck.”
I realized I was trying to implement a new system without any support or accountability. No one was checking in with me. No one was helping me troubleshoot. So when ClickUp felt hard, I let it go.
Now I know I need people around me who can help me stay in the new habit. The environment matters more than we think.
Why Frameworks Matter More Than Motivation
Michael said something simple but powerful. When we get uncomfortable, we go back to what is easy unless we have something stronger pulling us forward.
That stronger thing is usually a combination of clarity, support, and belief in the process. Motivation is not enough. We need a framework to follow and a reason to keep going.
What You Can Do Differently
If you are a therapist or practice owner trying to implement change, here are a few things I learned from this conversation:
Define success before you start. Know what you are trying to achieve and why.
Evaluate your environment. Are the people, tools, and systems around you helping or holding you back?
Expect resistance. Discomfort is not failure. It is part of the process.
Use the 7 influencers. If you feel stuck, look at the list and ask which one needs attention.
Final Thoughts
I still like ClickUp. And now I have a better plan for making it stick. I am not just trying a new tool. I am thinking through what success looks like, who I need around me, and how to stay focused even when things get uncomfortable.
That is what Michael’s framework helps you do. Not just start changing, but stay with it.
You can listen to the full interview on the podcast and get Michael’s free toolkit, which includes an audiobook, workbook, and more.
Listen to the episode: STP 130
Get the free toolkit: arcintegrated.com/free
You are not failing. You are just in the middle of the change. Stay with it.
– James
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