Why is it so hard to make progress on some pieces?

Do you ever reach the point in a project when your ability to complete it seems to elude you? I have regularly embarked upon a project, done preparatory work, thought about the effect I want to achieve and embarked on the making phase only to feel a sense of disappointment. Recently I was introduced to a debate on line which explored just this issue. The initial starter to discussion came as link to a website: http://www.tienchiu.com/2011/11/mind-the-gap/ Tien Chiu discusses the "Gap" which affects most creative people when their ideas, aspirations for a piece are not matched by the the reality of your work so far. She argues that this is the primary reason so many people give up attempts and that we need to educate ourselves and others to recognise that if you are smitten by a craft, you'll invest in the time and disappointment getting to be proficient requires. If you are never taught that the gap exists and that ALL artists have to breach the gulf at some time you can't appreciate that the process requires one to be hooked by the craft and what it is capable of producing before one will be prepared to make the investment needed to achieve results one can be proud of. On the way one will produce work not up to expectation, and here one needs to be encouraged and tutored on ways to make it better. So important that when people begin to take an interest we foster, encourage, tutor and add a pinch of realism to the pot. I realise now that this is exactly what my Mum did, and was so brave to let me go out in garments I had made which were far from well made in the interests of ensuring that I kept motivated and improving. I really wish I had got into this debate many years ago so that I could understand the issues I was experiencing. Do read her blog in full, link on my list of blogs and websites.