It's an urge to me. Just like a physical urge, like "I think I'll stand up now and stretch my legs, they're cramped."

"I think I want to develop a project."

For me it's a toss up between knowing what I want, giving a shit, and making myself do something I don't really want to do. I usually use something to assist with the latter, since in the other two cases, it's more about not stopping myself, although sometimes perhaps I should.
Not caring what most people think is both help and hindrance.

I get urges all the time. Then my urges get urges. Then I end up playing Team Fortress 2 until four in the morning. Yeah, baby! that's initiative!

For me, it's the panic of "oh shit I need to do this NOW!!!" thanks to deadlines. I don't really do much in the way of initiative, except for writing, sometimes. That's just an idea in my head that I want to spread out.

For me, it's a general sense that this will be better. That's for small matters (it will Be Better when the dirty dishes are clean!) or bigger (it will Be Better when I finish the great American novel!) or in-between (it will Be Better when I re-upholster that chair!)

And truthfully? Right now, it will Be Better when I close the laptop, go get my shoes on, and get to my appointment. Bye, y'all!

Too often, it's "There is nothing good about how I feel just sitting here, so it's time to do something,it's worth the brief unpleasantness that comes with effort."

But yes, it helps an awful lot to identify the first step, why it seems difficult or why you're afraid of it, and then identify what you can do about that.

When faced with a particularly unpleasant or formidable task, I also remind myself that almost anything is better To Do than it is To Dread, whether it's cleaning the apartment, filling out complicated paperwork, starting a challenging new project, or having an awkward conversation.

For example, instead of "wah, I don't wanna do my physical therapy," I think "Oh, it's time to do my physical therapy, and then it'll be over." It doesn't always work, but it's something I keep in mind.