Are 'YOU' Your roadblock?

What happens when you repeatedly press down on a balloon? It cracks, right?

All of the air inside escapes in less than a minute and you’re left with a deflated balloon. Have you ever felt that void within you, where there is just no air to keep you up and lively??

I'm sure most of us reading this would have felt this way at least once in?our?life, some of us more than once. Butdespite this being such a common problem, we continue to live with anxiety or mental discomfort. Why? Because we’re coming our way?toward?normalcy, excellence,?and growth.?

During my college days, I had a colleague who broke up with his?girlfriend. For days, he didn't come out of his room. Forget about studies, he was barely even eating anything.

We were all worried for him and one of our intelligent friends even suggested?he?go for counseling.?

“Am I mad?” He exclaimed with disappointment. And he didn't go see someone. Slowly, he started falling sick and had to be admitted to the hospital. If only he had asked for help and sought professional assistance, maybe things would have been different.?

Having recently read Dave Hollis' book "Get Out of Your Way," I recollected this incident. According to Dave, everyone’s sorrow is different.

Our body and mind can sense when we need assistance, and ignoring it will cause us great harm.

Poor mental health can strike anytime and in the most unexpected circumstances. It does not always explain?why something is happening and does not always have a justification.

To keep our minds healthy, we must change how we handle things. The truth is that whatever we undergo in life has an impact on our subconscious mind, with some leaving?long-lasting?impressions which we need to deal with.

For example, our mental health may have suffered due to our previous failures which can cause us to doubt our abilities and worry that our successes were only coincidental. To overcome this, we must be willing to try new things, venture into new, unknown territories and experiment constantly.

This not only would pave the way for us to learn new skills and facts for the future,?but we’ll also?learn to accept more failure without getting too attached to our activities and wouldn't doubt our potential.?

Another thing that is seen to slow down growth is thinking about others. When we start to think about the reactions our activities would instigate, we often tend not to take important steps. What we, instead, need to remember is that people are too preoccupied with themselves to think about us.

If someone criticizes us without a valid reason, it is because they doubt their abilities and their preconceived notions. We need not base our self-esteem on the opinions of others.?

Can I be honest? I deeply apologize for bearing some bad news that everyone will not like us. Our self-esteem is determined by how we feel about ourselves and how others perceive us. Allowing others to choose how we think about?ourselves?is analogous to a child refusing to approach an animal because one has bitten him, and he believesall of them will bite him.

If one situation ends in a certain way, it does not imply that others will follow suit.

Whether we think something is good or bad, we should investigate it, even if it is overbearing to the point where things can get dark.?

Yes, it is difficult to accept and change. But if we continue to live like we’ve been accustomed to, we will not be in a happy place and we won’t be able to create a better tomorrow. Telling our children that it's okay to express?theirfeelings is important. Acknowledging our needs and seeking help when required is normal and healthy. More than anything, having these conversations openly is required.

Lastly, being open to constructive feedback, discussions, opinions,?and decisions which may not be in line with our thinking is important. Do you spend time with folks who share your interests? Do they share your viewpoints? There are numerous cultures, individuals, faiths, and points of view in business and personal lives. Spending much time with people who are different from us makes us more open-minded and tolerant.

Everything will remain the same if everyone thinks the same way, and there will be no big ideas that could revolutionize our?future operations.

Different experiences add to the variety of approaches to an issue. Telling ourselves that?our?way may not be the right?way will help us avoid mental stress and pave the path for experimenting with new ideas.?

Overall, "Get Out of Your Way" is an inspiring and thought-provoking audiobook that inspires and encourages listeners to take control of their lives and achieve their goals. It indeed was groundbreaking for me.

Whether you want to change careers, improve relationships, or live a better, more meaningful life, these lessons are meant for anyone who wants to rise above their limitations and reach their full potential.

Thank you and would love to hear your thoughts on the subject as well.

Pankaj Gupta - Executive Director -?BNI Deira, Dubai, UAE & Executive Director - Corporate?Connections, Dubai, UAE?