What’s Really Holding You Back? Six hidden barriers keeping you from reaching your full potential

Have you ever had a great idea, got started on it with great passion then lost focus a couple of days, weeks or months later? It happens more often than you think. Most of us are great at getting started on new endeavors but have trouble maintaining momentum and seeing the vision through to the end.
As a success coach I work with individuals all the time that want to break past the barriers that keep them stuck and get them to the place they want to be. In my practice I have noticed six barriers to success.
If you are at a place in your life where you want more from your existence perhaps it is one of these areas keeping you stuck. If you can address them you will be on your way to achieving you dreams.
1. Fear of change. Often we say we want a better life or to make a change for the better. But change is not always easy.
When you begin a new endeavor you are focused on changing the things you don’t like, bad bosses, commutes, remedial tasks,the size of your paycheck. Avoiding and overcoming those things excites us. But as we continue to pursue our path we begin to see the things we like potentially change. Our daily routine, time with family, social activities and friendships. Losing or modifying our lifestyle can create a fear that sabotages our potential success.
2. Fear of Success. Everyone knows the super hero adage, “With great power comes great responsibility.” For most of us increased responsibility creates anxiety.
We may not want the attention that comes with more success. Or the long hours. Success can lead to being singled out. Your decisions come under increased scrutiny and your actions are disseminated by others. That pressure of the spotlight, attention and need to be always making decisions that have large consequence keep some from pursuing success.
3. Fear of Failure. We have all had a time in our life where we were embarrassed. Maybe tripped in front of a bunch of people or tried to accomplish a task and failed miserably. That flush red faced embarrassment is hard to swallow.
Most of us cringe at the thought of being expected to accomplish something great only to fail. We worry that we might look like we have an inflated ego and we got what was coming to us. Or we got in over our head and now we are embarrassed.
Or we may have been berated by misguided parents or teachers and we fear the retribution of failure.
Whatever the case the thought of trying and failing for all to see leaves us at a place where we are too paralyzed to try.
4. Self-esteem. In our minds we have a sense of what we can and cannot do. If you don’t believe you can be successful you are probably right. Many people did not achieve all their goals at an early age so they begin telling themselves they failed once they will continue to fail. They fixate on their shortcomings rather than their strengths. This constant negative self-assessment keeps you from letting go, being in the moment and focusing on success
5. Ambition. What is that innate energy that keeps someone pushing for a solution rather than giving up when they hit an obstacle? Anything worth doing is going to have competition, barriers and difficulty. We all face them sooner or later when we try to succeed. Your response is key to your success. Like water running down hill successful people just find a way. when you reach a barrier you go up, around, under. Do you find a different path or give up? Developing a persistent ambition is key to any successful endeavor.
6. control. Most of us believe we have complete control over the negative things that happen in life but no control over the positive. If we run into an obstacle it is because we took a wrong turn or did something stupid. We blame and berate ourselves for not being better or smarter. Yet when something positive happens we attribute it to luck or circumstance. Understanding that you have control over your successes and your areas of improvement is a huge key to success.
If any of the above barriers exist for you or you are not sure which one is holding you back you can take a free assessment here. Remember knowing what you need to work on is the first step to addressing the situation and moving forward to be the best you possible.
mike