From Stuck to Success: Overcoming the Barriers that Hinder Us
Barriers come in various shapes and sizes, even in the words we use and the beliefs we hold.
I'm too young or too old
What if I fail
What if I succeed
I wouldn't even know where to begin
Someone else is better than me, more experienced, has more money (fill in the comparison)
And the list goes on
Ultimately, it's up to you, for:
Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right. (Henry Ford)
Instead believe in God and know that YOU
"can do all things through Him who gives you strengths." Philippians 4:13
What are the various strategies you enlist when you face roadblocks in your life?
Do you consider plan B or C, or do you discard all other routes and make plan A work facing it full steam ahead.
Do you wait and “cross that bridge when I get there?”
Are you the type of person that likes to put all of your eggs in one basket or do you weigh the other options?
Do you ever use the "If, then" method to solve a problem? Such as, "If I get a raise, I’ll stay at this job, otherwise I’m out of here."
Do you use the pros and cons list to make decisions or do you just go with the heads this and tails that outcome?
Whether it’s our personal life, professional success, or spiritual journey, we all struggle with giants in our lives. Some decisions are easy peasy. On the other hand, there are those decisions that stump us, as they are harder to decipher. What do we do when obstacles become boulders in our lives and we can’t see a way around them?
As we read scripture, we see many stories of triumphs over trials. One of my favorites is the story of Joseph. He surely faced many trials in his life. You’ve probably heard the story many times. Joseph is the second youngest of twelve brothers. He is also favored by his father Jacob. First, because Joseph’s brothers become so jealous of him that they end up selling him into slavery. Later, Joseph faces another giant when he is put in prison for being falsely accused by his master’s wife.
Nevertheless, God has a plan for Joseph’s life, as He does for each one of His children. God granted Joseph the gift of being able to interpret dreams and through this gift, God uses Joseph to save His people from starvation.
What are some of the obstacles that are currently blocking your growth today? How are you dealing with them? What is holding you back from using the gifts that God has blessed you with?
First of all, you need to have clear goals and you need to know the action steps needed to move forward. If you don’t have clear set goals, how will you know when you’ve crossed the finish line? Know what you are desiring to achieve.
Focus on what you want. What is it that drives you? What are you passionate about? What do you get lost in? Focus on your dreams and know that you’ll get to where you are going.
Have realistic expectations of yourself and of your goals. It’s okay to set high goals for yourself, but if you are not reaching them and it’s deterring you from your dreams, take baby steps to the prize. You’ll get there!
Do you know your brand? What you’re good at and what sets you apart from the competition? You need to know your strengths, your skills, and talents so that you know how to reach your destination.
Foresee any obstacles that could potentially make you stumble. In this way, you may be able to prevent them and even get you to your goal faster. Sometimes this means planning ahead; such as, what you will eat at a party. Maybe you won’t eat at the party because you are trying to either lose weight or eat healthy or you have dietary restrictions. You can eat dinner before the party or offer to take a dish so you know there will be something on the menu you will be able to eat.
Be aware of your choices. Sometimes I hear, “Oh, I didn’t know that was a choice” or “I wish I would have known. I wouldn’t have (fill in the blank).” This might mean doing some research in advance or consulting with a friend, mentor, or coach who has more experience and can guide you toward a wise decision. For instance, choosing a major or a career. Or purchasing a car or a house. It’s okay not to have all the answers, just don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. It might help you from making mistakes others have made, which could even end up saving you time and money.
Sometimes we even create our own obstacles. Such as, the fear of taking the first step. The fear of, “What if?” What if I can’t. What if I’m not good enough? Don’t play the comparison game. “What if someone else is better at it? Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” What you think will ultimately get you to where you are going or keep you stuck where you are.
Remember to focus on your “Why?” Why is your goal important to you? At the end of the day, your “why” will keep you moving forward.
My advice, face your fears head on. If you fall, get back on the horse. Going from stuck to success begins with:
A clear action plan
Taking the first step today
Keeping your eyes focused on the prize
If plan A doesn’t work, there’s always plan B or C to get you there.
What’s holding you back? You have the choice to stay where you are and look back at your life five or ten years from now and wonder what could have been. Or, you can choose to take your first step today and look back one day and say, “Wow! Look how far I’ve come!”
The choice is yours! All you have to do is believe in yourself. God already does. So, go out and be amazing!