Why finishing feels harder than starting and how to beat it

When I neared the finish of this very material, a wave of doubt hit me. “What if it isn’t perfect?” I thought, fingers hovering over the final keystrokes. Memories of razored-thin book drafts and lukewarm reviews flooded in. Worst of all, I dreaded the “what now?” moment—closing one project only to stare at a blank page.

That fear nearly stalled me. Then I remembered every finish story I’d gathered—all those finishers who shared how much relief and pride washed over them, even if their results weren’t flawless. So I called my editor at 9 PM and said, “Read the last chapter and tell me to stop.” His one-line cheer propelled me to type “The End.”

Science calls this anticipatory resilience: planning for the emotional shift after a goal so you don’t freeze. Pairing a trusted friend’s voice with your next steps makes the finish line feel like a threshold, not a trap. That final mile transforms from a brick wall into the launch point for everything you’ll do next.

Acknowledge your finish-line fear, list your worst worries, and pick a friend who can push you forward. Then anchor yourself to a roadmap of next steps so the project’s end becomes the start of something new. Lean on that support and cross the line with confidence.