You may have convinced yourself that the success you want is not possible. The cards are stacked against you, so you think. I am just not wired that way, you conclude. You start to accept your condition with a resignation because that is an escape from the self-torment when you know you are not doing what you could be doing. You may even go so far as to claim that because you do not have something, then you cannot start yet. You need to buy something, you need to learn something, you need to fix something, heal from something. Perhaps you will say you do not have enough money or enough time. You say that something hurts too bad. The list is long.
None of this is true, of course.
You have everything you need to get started. If you try to claim otherwise, you are fooling yourself. I have met many people and read about many more who have accomplished their dreams with far less than you or I. The fact that you are reading this means you have the resources to access this, which already elevates you above about 93% of the people who have ever lived on this planet. So, whatever the excuse is, you really do not have one. I know. I know. You have one that is really and truly a barrier, and you are the exception. Once again, you are making that up. You are convincing yourself of that truth. I daresay that if you are alive and breathing, all the problems preventing you from reaching your goals are in your mind.
You are the problem. No one else. Nothing else. You and you alone are the barrier to your success. Now, there may have been some significant calamity in your past that you are trying to recover from. I will grant you that difficulties arise, many of which are out of our control. However, that is in your past, and the past does not exist. It is gone. Over. Finished. There is no past. You only have right now to deal with, so there is no use trying to scapegoat your current failures on a non-existent past.
Watch my video on Conquering the Mind, here
This concept of the mind being the greatest barrier to our success has been the topic of countless books, papers, seminars, and self-help gurus. Entire meditation practices are centered around overcoming this mental barrier. A classic book by Carol Dweck called Mindset: The New Psychology of Success introduced the idea of a fixed versus growth mindset. This has now become a commonplace theme in the business world. Dweck’s research demonstrates that individuals with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities, intelligence, and talents are innate and unchangeable. They tend to avoid challenges, fear failure, and often view effort as fruitless because they believe they have a fixed ability level. Conversely, those with a growth mindset believe abilities can be developed and improved through effort, learning, and persistence. They see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow and are more resilient in the face of setbacks.
This research clearly indicates that there are mental barriers in place and that they are a significant source of our inability to be who we want to be. These barriers can be self-doubt, fear, procrastination, limiting beliefs, negative self-talk, and more. They often stem from past experiences, societal conditioning, and personal insecurities. We do not have to stay victims to all of that. Once we become aware of this problem, we can do something about it. Self-awareness is the first step in conquering the mind. The best advice I have heard is to spend time understanding your thoughts and emotions to identify the mental barriers that hold you back. Journaling and mindfulness practices can be helpful tools in this process. That has certainly helped me.
Unfortunately, we will not get over mental barriers easily. They will come back to haunt us. They creep back into our minds and convince us that we are incapable, unworthy, or foolish. This is a battle that is ongoing and never really stops. Your best bet is to start. Today. You can keep at it, no matter what, and eventually, you will build resistance to these negative thoughts that fight against you. Resilience and Grit are not something you are born with; it is something you earn.
