Obstacles to Success – Part 2

As mentioned in my last article, “obstacles cause us to lose momentum as we are trying to achieve our visions and goals. They often make us feel stuck. And sadly, the longer we feel stuck, the more likely we are to give up on whatever it is we were striving towards.”

There are two kinds of obstacles: external and internal. The best way to explain the difference is by over-simplifying. External obstacles are things which are out of your control that get in your way. Internal obstacles are things which you can control that get in your way. Here are a few examples of each:

Types of External Obstacles (things you can’t control):
• A meeting you were not in charge of runs late, causing you to have to reschedule something that was important to you.
• You have been seeking a specific career move, but do not know the right people to open doors for you.
• Your car unexpectedly needs to get fixed, forcing you to dip into the money you were holding for something else.
• You had full intention to finish a project over the weekend, but a friend called urgently needing your help with a personal situation.

Types of Internal Obstacles (things you can control):
• You desire to deepen a friendship with someone you know casually, but are unsure if that person will like you for who you really are.
• You have always wanted to learn more about “X,” but can’t figure out how to carve out time in your schedule to begin taking classes.
• You want to accomplish “X,” but your fears keep getting in the way.
• Negative self-talk prevents you from moving forward towards your dreams and goals.

When you suddenly find an obstacle in your way, take a moment to figure out if that obstacle is internal or external. If it is external, create a Plan A and a Plan B so that you have an alternative ready for any unexpected situations that might arise. If the obstacle is internal, commit to investing in any resources you need to overcome it.

Ask yourself:
1. What external factors will your plan have to account for if it is going to work?
2. Is there one key obstacle which if you conquered it would make a decisive difference in reaching your goal?
3. Relax for a minute and pay attention to what’s going on inside you. Where do you feel stress around this idea or situation?
4. What’s driving your responses?
5. What belief is behind your responses and how well is that belief serving you?

If you commit to analyzing your obstacles to determine if they are internal or external, and then do whatever it takes to overcome them, I guarantee you’ll find it easier to accomplish anything you set your mind to. Having a support network of people who you can bounce ideas off of, receive honest feedback from, and hold you accountable for the decisions you make will also help you continue to move forward towards your intended results. If you do not have a support network of at least 4 - 6 people, create one now.

Have a wonderful day, and remember to keep your eyes open for all the exciting possibilities within and around you!