5 Obstacles to Overcome for Success

When you’re trying to achieve a goal, whether it be making a move in your career, or contemplating another important life change, sometimes things can seem really overwhelming.  We all face challenges in our lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know what’s really holding us back.  When you identify what your personal obstacles are, you can develop a plan to work through them, and find yourself on a better path for success.

Here are 5 common obstacles to overcome to promote your overall success:

Need for Clarity

If you haven’t yet gotten clear about what you want, it’s hard to achieve your goals.  Take some time to identify what it is that you want to accomplish or achieve.  Then, figure out and write down the steps you will take to get there.  The clearer you are about what your desired outcome is, the easier it will be to actually put your plans into place and ultimately find success.

Fear

Experts believe fear is the number one reason that we hold ourselves back from taking steps toward change.  We worry about the risks involved, particularly failure.  Let’s face it, most of us don’t like change and choose what we know to be safe.  Recognize your fears and use strategies to work through them.  Try affirmations, talk to someone for support, and do what it takes  to overcome the fears that inhibit your growth.

Perfectionism

Many of us tend to put off starting tasks or making big changes because our need for perfection gets in the way.  If we wait for everything to be perfect, we’ll be waiting for a long time.  Learn to start where you are with what you have, but do start.  Just like we tell our children, making mistakes is how we learn.  Remember to be kind to yourself and to give yourself grace as you courageously move forward.

Negative Self-talk

Are you paying attention to how you talk to yourself in your head?  Do you use your inner language to motivate and build yourself up or are you particularly hard on yourself?  Learn to tune in to your thought patterns and to reframe negative thoughts into positive ones.  This can take practice, but doing so can go a long way to support you in overcoming obstacles and living your best life.

Unrealistic Expectations

Right up there with perfectionism, is the common practice of setting expectations for ourselves that may not necessarily be realistic.  While you always want to aim high, it’s important to keep it real.  Set goals that are achievable.  When you find success in taking even small steps toward your goals, this will help you to feel fulfilled and will empower you to continue making progress and to strive for what you truly want.

You may have heard of SMART goals. This strategic method is a great way to get started with or to revise your practice of goal setting. Learn more about SMART goals HERE. Remember, it’s crucial to always revisit and re-evaluate your goals to help you stay on track. Developing and maintaining patience, perseverance and positivity is a winning combination when it comes to finding your personal and professional success.

Written By: Patty Canton