Finding Your PATH: A Framework for Moving Forward When You're Stuck

Have you ever stared at a blank page, knowing you need to start something important but feeling completely paralyzed?

All the time, can I get an amen?

What about the dread after a project that once excited you but now feels overwhelming? Maybe you're leading a ministry or business that's lost momentum, and you're not sure how to diagnose what's wrong or chart a course forward.

I've been there more times than I can count. I’ll be there again, and so will you. But here’s some good news.

As someone who's coached dozens of clients through personal breakthroughs. I’ve also had the pleasure of evaluating struggling ministries searching for new life.

And after writing multiple books wrestling with my own creative blocks. I've learned that being "stuck" isn't a character flaw—it's often just a sign that we need a proven framework for moving forward.

That's why I developed what I call the PATH framework: a simple yet powerful approach that's helped me guide clients to breakthrough moments, evaluate complex organizational challenges, and reignite my own creative projects.

Whether you're launching something new, desiring to grow spiritually, or assessing what's already in motion, the PATH framework provides a roadmap for clarity and action.

The PATH Framework: More Than Just Another Acronym

PATH stands for Purpose & Vision, Assess Current Situation, Think Through Options, and Harness Action Steps. But it's more than just a clever acronym—it has spiritual threads running underneath.

A journey from dream to reality that mirrors how God often works in our lives and the wisdom we see throughout Scripture.

P - Purpose & Vision: What Do You Want to Achieve?

Every meaningful journey begins with a destination. In the Purpose & Vision phase, we dig deep into not just what you want to accomplish, but why it matters to your soul.

I often start clients with what Graham Cochrane calls the "50 things I want" exercise—because sometimes we need to dream big before we can focus small.

In the exercise, you simply write “50 things” I want/desire in my life. It can be anything from learning to speak Spanish, to making a million dollars in your business.

Consider Nehemiah, who carried a vision for Jerusalem's walls to be restored long before he ever saw the rubble firsthand. His purpose wasn't just construction—it was restoring dignity to God's people and creating a secure place for them to flourish. That deeper "why" sustained him through opposition and setbacks.

In my own journey, I spent years as a coach without clearly articulating my purpose. I was helping people, but I lacked that magnetic north star. It wasn't until I realized my true calling was helping others break through the barriers that keep them from their God-given potential that my work gained focus and power.

Key questions for this phase:

• What would success look like in this area?

• Why is this important to you right now?

• How will achieving this impact other areas of your life?

• What would be different if this goal was accomplished?

A - Assess Current Situation: Where Are You Now?

The assessment phase requires brutal honesty without self-condemnation. We're taking inventory of both the challenges and the resources already at our disposal.

Think of David facing Goliath—he didn't minimize the giant's size, but he also didn't forget his victories over the lion and bear. During this assessment we want to be brutally honest where we stand.

I remember working with a ministry leader whose outreach program into the local community had plateaued. Instead of immediately jumping to solutions, we spent significant time assessing what was actually working.

We discovered they had incredibly strong community trust and a team of devoted volunteers—assets they'd been taking for granted while focusing only on what wasn't working. The ministry only needed some creative problem solving and they’d soon be impacting the community as before.

This assessment phase often reveals that we have more resources than we realized and that some obstacles aren't as insurmountable as they first appeared. It's about seeing current reality clearly, not through the lens of discouragement or unrealistic optimism.

Key questions for this phase:

• What's the current situation regarding this goal?

• What resources do you already have available?

• What obstacles are you currently facing?

• What have you learned from previous attempts?

T - Think Through Options: What Are Your Possibilities?

This is where creativity meets faith. We brainstorm multiple approaches, consider unconventional solutions, and remember that God often works in ways we wouldn't expect. During this phase we don’t want to judge any ideas. Let them fly and adjust as needed.

Often in this part of the framework we only think of the obvious possibilities. Sometimes the solutions are on a deeper level. When the Israelites faced the Red Sea, Moses probably had several contingency plans—but God's solution was beyond any human strategy.

In my coaching practice, I've learned that the first solution people consider is rarely the best one. By forcing ourselves to generate multiple options, we often discover approaches that are more aligned with our values, more sustainable, or more innovative than our initial instincts.

I once worked with an entrepreneur whose business was struggling. His first instinct was to pivot entirely to a new industry. Through the "Think Through Options" phase, we discovered seven different approaches to revitalizing his current business, three of which proved far more promising than starting over.

Take time to explore all the possibilities. Don’t rush.

Key questions for this phase:

• What are all the possible ways you could approach this?

• What would you do if you had unlimited resources?

• Who do you know who has succeeded in a similar area?

• What would you advise a friend in your situation?

H - Harness Action Steps: What Will You Do?

Vision without action remains mere dreaming. The "Harness Action Steps" phase transforms possibilities into concrete plans. Like Jesus sending out the twelve disciples with specific instructions for their journey, we need clear, actionable steps that create momentum.

This is where many people and organizations falter—not because they lack good ideas, but because they fail to translate those ideas into manageable, time-bound actions.

James reminds us to be "doers of the word, not hearers only," and this principle applies to any meaningful change we want to create. This is sadly where most people tap out.

One client came to me with a dream of writing a book but had been "working on it" for three years without producing a single completed chapter. They bragged to friends and family of being a “writer.”

I said, writers by definition, write. You aren’t doing much of that. You like the idea of being a writer, but until you practice the craft you aren’t.

This was a Come to Jesus moment. Through PATH, we identified specific writing sessions, word count goals, accountability partners, and incremental milestones. Six months later, she had a completed manuscript.

Once my writer friend had a plan going forward this created momentum. Enough momentum to have written three more books in only twelve months.

Action creates momentum. It’s the nature of things.

Key questions for this phase:

• Which options resonate most with you?

• What's the first step you'll take this week?

• What might get in the way, and how will you handle it?

• Who will help keep you accountable?

PATH in Practice: Three Broad Applications

Starting New Projects When You're Stuck

When creative paralysis strikes, PATH provides structure for breakthrough. Begin with Purpose & Vision to reconnect with why this project matters.

Assess where you are honestly—maybe you're not as far behind as you think, or maybe you need to acknowledge you've been avoiding a crucial step.

Think through multiple approaches—perhaps the project needs a different format, timeline, or scope.

Finally, identify one small action you can take today to build momentum.

Personal Growth and Development Journey

PATH transforms vague self-improvement desires into concrete growth plans. Whether you're developing leadership skills, deepening spiritual disciplines, or improving relationships, start by clarifying what growth would actually look like in your life.

Assess your current habits and patterns honestly. Often we stay we want to grow but nothing in our lives says as much.

Generate multiple strategies for development; read books, go to conferences, get a coach or guide, take a class.

Then commit to specific practices with accountability. PATH is a framework you can revisit for the entirety of your life when you get stuck in your personal growth.

Evaluating Existing Ventures

For ongoing projects, ministries, or businesses that feel stagnant, PATH provides diagnostic clarity.

Revisit the original Purpose & Vision—has it evolved or become unclear?

Assess current performance, resources, and obstacles with fresh eyes.

Think through multiple strategies for revitalization or redirection.

Then implement specific changes with clear metrics for success.

I want you to see the power of PATH and the application possible in your personal life, leadership, business, or ministry. These examples are basic, but when applied, your next breakthrough is right around the corner.

The Power of Having a PATH

What I've discovered through years of applying this framework is that people rarely lack good ideas or genuine motivation. What they lack is a reliable process for transforming dreams into reality.

PATH provides that process—a way to move systematically from vision to action, whether you're launching something new or revitalizing something that's lost momentum.

The biblical journey from vision to reality is never linear, but it's always purposeful. Joseph's path from dreamer to leader included years in prison. David's journey from shepherd to king involved caves and exile.

But their stories remind us that having a clear sense of purpose, honest assessment of current reality, creative problem-solving, and commitment to action can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.

Your next breakthrough might be closer than you think. Sometimes all you need is a clear PATH forward.

-Ryan