Have you ever felt like you were destined to do great things, but just seem to be stuck in the same routine, doing the same things, and not living your life to it's potential? I have been there too. It is not your job, your family, your friends, or anything/anyone holding you back. The reality is that YOU are the reason your life isn't where you want it to be. There is no one to blame for this lack of greatness, but yourself.
The first time I heard this, I had a really hard time accepting I was the sole reason my life was not as fulfilling as I wanted it to be. I thought, there is no way I would prevent myself from obtaining all the things I wanted out of life. However, when I actually sat down and thought about it, I realized that my mind was blocking me to being open to the opportunities around me and was keeping me in the same routine. Why? Because I was essentially protecting myself. I was in a state of safety...not going outside my comfort zone which would prevent me from being put in a situation where I could get hurt or fail. This in turn, also prevented me from opening myself up to the potential of a greater, more fulfilling life.
Ryan and I recently went to a conference about how to improve your business as an entrepreneur, but the take away for me was really the notion of PULLING THE TRIGGER. I have always lived my life in my comfort zone. Not stepping outside my boundaries to experience all life had to offer me. I'd have lots of ideas on what I wanted my life to look like and where I wanted to be in 3-5 years, but I wasn't acting on them. I would think, plan, and then let them sit on a shelf, not really taking the time to implement the ideas into reality.
My personal block has always been the fear of failure, but at this conference I realized that I'm also afraid to succeed. When I say succeed, I mean really succeed. Like people relying on you, listening to what you had to say, and in turn being held accountable. This new revelation, although hard for me to accept and share with you, has opened my eyes to what I need to change in order to reach my full potential. You can do it too! Whatever you discover is holding you back from being amazing is the very thing you need to change about yourself.
How do we do this? Well we have to be ok with failure. It's possible that the ideas we want to try to implement may not be successful, or people will have negative thoughts about me or you, but that's ok! It is better to PULL THE TRIGGER and possibly fail, than it is to stay in the same boring routine that isn't making you happy. Just try at whatever you've always wanted to do. If you fail, that's just one way not to do it. There are lots of other ways to accomplish something. You've just gained experience on how to better your chances of success the next time you try.
The best advice I got at this conference was that even the most successful person really sucked at what they are now successful in when they first started. You have to start somewhere and you won't be amazing at it right away! It'll take hard work and consistency, but if you stick with it and learn/grow, you will succeed!
This next year, for me, is going to be dedicated to making changes in the way I look at myself. I am determined to become a more confident individual who is ok with failure AND with success. I will try! I will pull the trigger! I need to get out of my own way and be ok just doing something rather than waiting until it's "perfect" (which means it will never be exactly as I want it to be so I won't actually do it). I will be open to the endless opportunities that I have been blind to in the past. I will be happy with who I am and where I am in life. Those are the promises I'm making to myself. Step one? PULL THE DAMN TRIGGER! I just need to do it!
My advice to you is to make a list of the things you want out of life (your job, $, love, travel, etc) and put it somewhere you will see it every day. Then really sit down and think about what is blocking you from obtaining the things you want in life. The sooner you open your eyes to what is wrong, the sooner you can change your life for the better. We all have greatness in us, we just have to be brave enough to achieve it.
Feel free to share and comment below! I would love to hear what your personal blocks are and how you are going to overcome them!