Introduction
Overcoming common obstacles and fears can be difficult, but not impossible. Some of these challenges are just the result of a more normal way of thinking. In fact, your biggest obstacle may be fear itself. A fear of failing is a normal stress response, and can keep you from attempting new things. Another common fear is hiding in your comfort zone and bad habits. Here are some strategies for dealing with these feelings.
Clarity of thought
Clarity of thought is key. If you have a clear mental picture of what you want, you can think more resourcefully and optimally. While obstacles may seem insurmountable at first, keep in mind that they are only a setback unless you do nothing. If you decide to take action, you’ll be more likely to succeed. The power of clarity helps you to be able to make the best decisions for your future.
Identifying the fear is an essential first step in overcoming it. It is important to realize that your fear is real and that it’s holding you back. When you have clarity, you’re more likely to think right. And even when an obstacle is so overwhelming, you’ll have to remind yourself that you have options. By taking actions and making decisions based on this awareness, you’ll be on your way to success.
Fear of Failure
Fear of failure is a natural and common feeling. It is important to understand how it works and to realize that we cannot avoid it. We should learn how to work with it and use it as a motivator for success.
Fear of failure can be defined as “the fear of not being able to meet expectations or the fear of being judged”. The fear itself is natural, but what matters is how we deal with it.
There are many ways in which one can overcome the fear of failure, such as by making a list of what could go wrong or by taking small steps that will help you get closer to your goal each day.
Your fear of failure is one of the most common obstacles. Your fear of failure will prevent you from achieving your dreams. If you’re not afraid of failure, you’ll be less likely to quit. But if you’re scared of success, you should use your fears to motivate yourself and achieve your goals. If you’re afraid of failing, you’ll probably do the opposite.
Fear of Rejection
The fear of rejection is a common phobia that people experience. It can be caused by a traumatic event, such as being bullied or teased. It can also be the result of an individual’s personality type and insecurity.
Fear of rejection can lead to social anxiety and depression. The person might avoid situations where they might experience rejection, such as dating. They may also avoid social situations where they anticipate rejection, such as public speaking or networking events.
The fear of rejection is one that many people struggle with and it is not uncommon for those who have suffered from this anxiety to feel like they are alone in their feelings and thoughts.
Fear of Loss
Fear of loss is the fear of not having something that we want or not being able to keep something that we already have. The fear can be generalized to include the fear of losing an important person, such as a spouse, child, friend, or family member.
The feeling can be caused by a variety of things:
- Losing someone close to us
- Losing our job
- Losing a loved one
- Losing a relationship with a significant other
- Losing money or property
Type of obstacles that stops us from living
Although we profess we want to change, most of us fight two kinds of obstacles on our journey to joy, external ones and internal ones.
External obstacles are those circumstances that are imposed from the outside. We say we will meet a friend at an amusement park, but external obstacles such as the weather or the price, nasty traffic, the boss’s demands and family obligations have us texting and excuse that we hope our friend will understand.
What are your go to excuse? What external factors seem to throw themselves into your path and determine your movement?
Internal obstacles or Gremlins are even more inhibiting. We all have Gremlins that live within our heads every moment of every day, waiting to attack. Gremlins are little nasty creatures whose sole job is to sabotage change to hold us back.
They work deftly to convince you that the path you are on is wrong, risky, selfish or just plain stupid.
Gremlins judge and confuse you. You find that you don’t go swimming in this magnificent ocean because you don’t look like a supermodel in a swimsuit. And there might be a great white shark out there waiting to eat you.
They thrive on perfectionism and people pleasing. They showed on you every chance they get.
OMG you shouldn’t be going to the party wearing that. You look terrible.
Sheesh, maybe you probably shouldn’t go at all.
You know, you probably won’t know anybody. And maybe they invited you just out of obligation.
Say the gremlins.
Gremlins are committed to squelching your courage, growth and your fun. Gremlins will do whatever it takes to get you from taking good care of yourself and creating a meaningful life.
Thanks to the Gremlins your nasty thoughts feed upon themselves and multiply if we do not conquer them with their great enemies, pleasure, optimism, joy, courage, love and an attitude of gratitude.
Who are your gremlins? What do they say that slows you down and makes you doubt all of your good and magnificent ideas?
A lot of work is needed to overcome these!
I’m sure you have noticed the external and internal obstacles are close cousins. Sure. You may have a lot of work to do. But without the internal voice saying, you must do work over play.
You would not be a party pooper to the leisure and the juice of your life right now. Right? If you live where I do, there’s almost always traffic. Some people go nowhere because of the traffic. They spend weekends at home. But other people instead think about it.
They want to go, so they leave on Thursday night instead of Friday. Or they go on Friday. And then they listen to a podcast while in the traffic where they do 100 things to make that magnificent trip possible.
They stand up to their Gremlins because seeing the world or loved ones or being in nature is part of their mission, part of their values. So they make the trip happen. They break out of their rut or fear or take their power back from those Gremlins and they don’t let the internal or external excuses stop them from creating a wonderful life.
