Nine reasons why
A look into what’s holding you back and how to get unstuck
Most of us resist change. Given the option, we would carry on as we always have been, settled comfortably in the old and known, cocooned in the all too familiar shell of habits and unconscious decisions. If life has been working for you up till now in this manner, there’s absolutely no cause for change, but if you feel your true potential is somehow yet to be realized or you feel unable to transit from where you are to your desired future state, you know it’s time for a shift.
Change is the law of life. And death. It is the law of the universe. Those looking back at their past or focused merely on their present miss their future. There’s a reason why rearview mirrors are smaller in comparison to the windshield in front. What lies ahead matters most.
Einstein said “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change”
Change is painful, no doubt. But it comes nowhere near to being stuck where you don’t belong. It is hard to believe, but some of the brightest, most talented people find themselves entrenched deep in the quagmire of stagnation.
Here are Nine Reasons why you resist change and how to move ahead.
- Never Enough: What if you have triggers only longing for more? Nothing is ever going to be enough for you. Is the glass half full, reminding you of the glass being half empty? Let what you have trigger appreciation rather than wistfulness, and be thankful for all that you have. An attitude of gratitude allows you to feel you have way more than what you need.
- Holding On: Being grateful for all that you have should not create a hurdle in recognizing what to let go of. What has always worked will not always work. Let go of past beliefs and attitudes to create space for newer and better ones.
- Can’t Do: Limitations exist only in our minds. A temporary hitch in the plan is perhaps the universe’s way of directing you to a different path.
Consider the Obstacle to be The Way.
Relegate your self-doubts to a distant corner of your being and focus on all that you have achieved up till now. If you have come so far, you can certainly go further. Try and be more proactive. Do not be passive and wait for a starting bell to jumpstart you into action.
Either you play life, or life plays you.
- Ignorance Is Bliss: The proverbial “ostrich in the sand” attitude can offer short term respite but never a long-term solution. You can’t make your problems disappear by looking the other way. Instead of expending energy in the emotional fallout, invest it in finding real solutions. The first step in problem-solving starts with acknowledgment and awareness.
- Dreaming-Not Planning: A dream is an idea with nowhere to go.
Set S.M.A.R.T goals with a doable action plan to bring your ideas to fruition. Believe in yourself enough to start setting goals and working towards them. Start with baby steps; small manageable goals accomplished every day adds up to long-term successes.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step.
Do not be a Negative Nancy. It’s addictive for the brain to think of all that might go wrong. Nothing positive ever resulted from a negative start, so pause and remind yourself of such tendencies and consciously rewire your thought patterns with positive affirmations. Do not wait for good things to come to you. Just walk to them.
- Stuck In A Rut: If you want something you have never had, you have to do something you have never done. If something’s not working, change your working. Step out of your comfort zone, assess the loopholes in your current processes, and courageously affect the changes required.
- The Blame Game: It’s common for humans to judge and blame. It’s either themselves or others or, more commonly, the situation that is limiting success. Remember, you have all the resources you need within you. The only lack is a lack of positivity and adaptability. Stop sinking into a victim mindset. Take ownership of your actions and hold yourself accountable. Be committed in mind, body, and spirit. At the very least, you should be able to count on yourself to power yourself through any challenges. Stay committed and be courageous.
- Borrowed Lens: Stephen Covey (7 habits of highly effective people) says, “We must look at the lens through which we see the world, as well as the world we see and that the lens itself shapes the world”. How we sometimes view ourselves can often be another person’s narrative and their perceptions clouded by their own limitations. How they see themselves is how they see you and your world. Make sure your perspective is your own. Get in touch with your core and connect with Your Reality. Each person’s unique reality requires its own unique response.
- Everyone Else: Too often, the start of the journey is bogged down by how far ahead in our perception, Everyone Else Rather than looking at someone’s success as a cue to the probability of our own, we feel fazed by the Bill Gates and Warren Buffets of the world. Understand each has their own path and accept no one can walk yours for you either. So put on those horse blinders, focus on your way, and charge ahead.
Each day ask yourself if what you are doing now is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow. Stretch your mind into novel experiences, abandon the limited dimensions of what and how you once were, and create the life of your dreams.
