Beware of these ten enemies that will hold you back from rising into your greatness. They will quickly erode your intentions and plans. They’ll drain your life of passion and potential and fill your spirit with regret.
Always taking the path of least resistance. – Just because you’re struggling does NOT mean you are failing. Any level of great success requires some kind of struggle to get there. Good things don’t come to those who wait. Good things come to those who work hard and struggle to pursue the goals and dreams they believe in. One of the best resources to help you in this area is the book by Steven Covey called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Comparing yourself to everyone else. – Please let me be honest with you today. You’ll never fully believe in yourself if you keep comparing yourself to everyone else. Being true to yourself … your beliefs, words and actions … is as important as being kind and true to others. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying though, others may be achieving great things themselves, but you were created by God to be you. So, stop comparing yourself to everyone else.
Worrying too much about what others think of you. – As long as you’re worried about what others think of you, they own you. The truth is this, only when you require no approval from outside yourself can you own yourself. If you’re being true to yourself and it isn’t enough for the people around you, then change the people around you. As hard as that may seem because you are unique, and your gift is to be used to bless others.
Ignoring your gut instincts. – There’s a difference between being agreeable and agreeing to everything. Give yourself permission to immediately walk away from anything that gives you bad vibes. There is no need to explain or make sense of it. We all have what is called that “inner voice.” Learn to trust that inner voice when it’s telling you, “This is a bad idea.” Most of the time that voice is “spot on!” and will save you a lot of grief.
Holding on when you need to move on. – Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting, it means you choose happiness over hurt. Sometimes you have to love people from a distance and give them the space and time to get their minds right before you let them back into your life. This can even mean learning to utilize the principle of “necessary endings.” When someone or something just isn’t adding value to your life … it needs to be removed.
Living in the past. – If you don’t leave your past in the past, it will destroy your future. Live for what today has to offer, not for what yesterday has taken away. Life is a journey that’s only traveled once. Today’s moments will become tomorrow’s memories. So, appreciate today’s moment for what it is, but be ready to embrace what lies ahead because the greatest gift of life is each new day of life itself.
Doing the wrong things just because others are doing it too. – I don’t need to say a lot here. Wrong is wrong, even if everyone else is doing it. Right is right, even if you are the only one doing it. Always do what you know in your heart is right, for you. Because at the end of the day all you have is your integrity and your good name. Not someone else’s.
Allowing small problems to overwhelm you. – Here’s what has helped me succeed in life … remembering that “Everything is going to be alright;” maybe not today but eventually. When you’re upset, ask yourself, “Will this matter to me in a year’s time?” Most of the time it won’t. Remember, sometimes bad things in life open up your eyes to the good things you weren’t paying attention to before. Keep your eyes open for those new opportunities.
Surrendering to the temptation of comfort. – The most common and harmful addiction in the world is the life of comfort. Why pursue greatness when you’ve already got 324 channels and a recliner? Just pass the chips and dip and forget about your plans. NO! The truth is growth begins at the end of your comfort zone. Stepping outside of your comfort zone will put things into perspective from an angle you can’t grasp right now, and will open doors of opportunity that would otherwise not exist.
NOT believing that you CAN. – If we don’t know that greatness is possible, we won’t bother attempting it. Too often, we don’t know any better than good enough. Sometimes you have to try to do what you think you can’t do, so you realize you actually CAN. And sometimes it takes more than one attempt. If ‘Plan A’ doesn’t work out, don’t freak out; the alphabet has another 25 letters that would be happy to give you a chance to get it right. The wrong choices usually bring us to the right places, eventually. But you must believe in your own potential in order to get there.