Stage of chess I dislike.

My suggestion: try reading one of the following. Knowing what to look for such as weaknesses in your opponents position to exploit or in your own position to repair or dissolve is very important and these books should help in that regard - and several others. AND believe it or not studying endgames will help you steer towards endgames favorable for YOU and avoiding endgames favorable for your opponent!

My System by Nimzovitch - I HIGHLY recommend it!

The Middle Game In Chess by GM Fine

Chess Master vs Chess Amateur or Judgement and Planning In Chess by former World CH GM Euwe 

Understanding Chess Middlegames by GM Nunn

BTW if it's any consolation I also have the same problem at times, maybe not as often as you do but it's still a problem for me as well. Here's some advise for you to keep in mind or ignore as you see fit:

When you don't know what to play, wait for an idea to come into your opponent's mind. You may be sure that idea will be wrong. TARRASCH

A bad plan is better than none at all  MARSHALL

This is the stage where a game can be won or lost.

Think outside the box and make smart moves. Take the initiative and don't get bullied off the board.

I often have a hard time coming up with a plan, but often improving the mobility of my pieces, or decreasing the mobility of my opponent's pieces, results in a win. Having a definite plan probably is more important at higher levels.

Posters asked me for an example.  Well it might not be the best example but only after 8 moves with anching -- one of my present games -- the situation I described in 1 above has occurred again.  Yes I can see possible moves but would rather wait until my opponent has castled or otherwise committed himself before I make any overt indication of what I have in mind.  I usually wait for an opponent to castle before trying any strategem and this might be my trouble.  However, do refrain from making a move suggestion just yet as this would not be fair to my opponent.

There are absolutely cases where moving weakens your position. There are not always ways to better your position, as one early respondent mentioned.   And some games seem locked up and any way out involves risk.

Other games just win themselves. Everything unfolds so smoothly from begining until I win.

Thanks reflectivist.  That is precisely what I said in 1 above.   I'm so glad someone agrees.  Even in this game (mentioned in my recent post above) I can see what seems a good attacking move.  But I can also see a good response, which if played would leave me a little worse off.  So in a sense I suppose we evaluate the opponent and play a risky attack if you think he is not up to it?  But we know a mature player will punish you for it.  Interesting eh?   I bet the same thought processes go through generals' minds involving real battles.

One strategy you can apply before castling: trying to make both sides unattractive to castle to.

[COMMENT DELETED]

(Didn't realize this was a rated game)

ash, it is against chess.com rules to ask for advise or analysis on an ongoing game. That is a bannable offense, in fact.

Which is why about 3 posts back I said to refrain from suggesting moves. The position was only shown as an example.  I'm quite confident about the game per se.

ash369, indeed, move 12 is where it starts to become difficult.