Are You Blocking Your Own Success?

It’s time to step back and take a good hard look at yourself. Self-improvement is hard, but you’re going to have an impossible time moving forward if you can’t see or refuse to take responsibility for your problems. Of course, it’s a lot easier to blame others for the failures and constant upheaval around your life. But by accepting that you’re a part of the problem and accepting responsibility for your actions, you can start working on the solution.

You have control over the way you behave, so when you make an effort to shape up and get what you really want out of life, you’ll begin to see the rewards. Remember: if you’re the problem, you’re also the solution.

Change is not easy. It requires courage, honesty, and foresight. Sitting there and hoping things will change is not enough. I have had multiple conversations with friends and business owners over the years who waited far too long to address tough subjects. Perhaps you’ve heard this phrase: the only constant in life is change. It’s true and it’s inevitable. Seasons change, relationships change, our thoughts and opinions change. Sometimes we choose it and other times it’s forced upon us. Typically, people try to avoid change because they fear the unknown. What’s interesting about this is that often the unknown is a path that we know good and well we should go down, but we’re so stuck in a comfortable way of failing that we sit back and do nothing about it.

A common example: you’ve smoked for years. You know exactly where that path leads and you’ve said numerous times that you’re going to quit smoking. It’s not going to be easy. Your biggest fear isn’t when you no longer crave a cigarette—it’s fear of the effort along the way, not knowing what that experience will be like. Some obstacles inside you put up roadblocks in the form of excuses. You have to be willing to take action and move out of your comfort zone. With the right commitment and dedication, by letting go of your fears and making changes, you’ll find that you’re a lot happier.

Get a mindset that small changes can equal big results. You don’t have to make enormous change all at once. Once you see the positive impact of smaller changes, I bet you won’t hesitate to make more!