Do you want to make positive changes this year and unlock you true potential?
When it comes to achieving our goals and living a fulfilling life, there are certain things that can hold us back from reaching our full potential and thriving. In this episode, I want to discuss 3 roadblocks you need to become aware of and the strategies to help you overcome them.
I share biblical truths and give you some actionable tools to help you overcome oppositions and move forward to achieve your goals and dreams.
3 Most Common and Problematic Barriers:
Doubt:
Doubt is a powerful emotion that can prevent us from taking action. It begins with a thought and then produces a feeling of uncertainty or lack of confidence in oneself, and it can be a major barrier to success.
Doubt can come from many sources, such as past experiences of failure, lack of support from others, fear of the unknown, not having what our heart needs: such as to be loved, seen, heard, to be affirmed, respected, cared for, etc.
To overcome doubt, it is important to recognize it as a normal emotion, but press in deeper to see what’s underneath that doubt.
We all will question our abilities and wonder if we’re on the right path in life. We can also doubt God – His love for us, His Word, are we even hearing Him, His timing…
Scriptural principle: Enermy will always bring doubt! Genesis 3 is a pattern. See it again with Jesus in the wilderness. “Did God really say…”
Get you to question God’s Word, His goodness and who you are and what’s available to you.
Answer: Have Faith – Believe
- Encourage yourself in God’s Word.
- James 1:6 and Mark 11:23-25
- Speak God’s Word out loud. Google a scripture if don’t know any, and then make that personal. (Ex. Psalm 91)
- A simple prayer: “Lord, show me truth!:
- Flip the coin. Pray the positive opposite.
- Take small steps to build confidence. Set small and achievable goals. By setting and reaching small goals, we can build momentum and confidence in our abilities.
- Seek out the support of others, seek out the advice of people who have already achieved what we want to achieve. Hearing from people who have been through similar struggles can be incredibly motivating and help us to push through our doubt.
- Learn to let go of past failures can all help to reduce doubt and build self-confidence. Be aware of the inner critic.
Distractions:
Distractions are anything that takes our focus away from what we are trying to accomplish. In today’s world, distractions come in many forms, such as social media, emails, notifications, binge on Netflix, etc.
Becoming busy or doing good things to avoid doing the things necessary to step towards goal.
To overcome distractions, it is important to take time to pause and be self-aware of the things that can distract us. Here are some suggestions to help you reduce distractions and stay focused on our goals.
- Seek God 1st. Matthew 6:33. Prioritize your relationship with Jesus. Start the day out talking with Him.
- Be honest with Him. Prayer is a dialogue. Intimacy. In to me see.
- Being still to connect with God and then follow His peace. Let peace rule your heart.
- Be intentional about each day.
- Establishing a daily routine and evaluate whether it’s taking you in the right direction of achieving your goals
- Set boundaries
- Take breaks to disconnect from technology use, phone calls, “noise”
- Create a peaceful environment that is conducive to focus.
- Good sleep is very important
Disappointments:
Everyone experiences times of frustration and distress over unfulfilled plans or dreams. Disappointments can come in many forms, such as a lost job, a failed or broken relationship, a missed opportunity, or loss of a loved one, someone not coming through for you…even the weather disrupting vacation plans, so forth.
- It’s important to remember that disappointments are a natural part of the journey towards achieving our goals.
- Mindset: you will have opposition. but set backs are just set ups for growth opportunity…to experience something greater. The bigger your goal or dream, the more opportunity to be opposed.
Instead of dwelling on the disappointment, it’s better to focus on what can be learned from the experience and use that knowledge to move forward.
- Examine your expectations. Often, we can have expectations that are not met, and we feel let down, betrayed, unworthy…These events can be difficult to overcome, but we can become resilient as a result.
- A resilient person is one who is able to bounce back from difficult times in life. Resilience comes from the lessons and skills we absorb as we grow up and as we face all of our difficulties whatever they are.
-Listen to Episode 9 on How to Live With Expectancy Instead Of Expectation.
- Allow yourself time to grieve, learn from the experience, and to find new ways to move forward.
- Make a decision to turn to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide you and fill you with hope.
- Choose to believe what God says instead of what your circumstances are saying, or even your feelings.
- Pray for God-appointments, connections and assignments for yourself. We can make plans but God directs our steps.
- Learn a new skill to help you grow. (resiliency coaching)
- Focus on small, achievable goals.
- Have a strong support system in place. When things don’t go as planned, it can be incredibly helpful to have friends, family, or a mentor to lean on for support and guidance.
To recap, doubt, distractions, and disappointments can all be major roadblocks on the path towards thriving. By learning to recognize and become self-aware of these obstacles, we can start to break through the limitations that are holding us back, and take steps towards living the life that we truly want.
Personalizing Scripture can be a great way to “affirm” yourself and to remember the positive.
From James 1:2-8 here’s my example:
I count it joy when I find myself facing trials and temptations to give up my faith, for I know that patience is being formed in me and is maturing so I won’t lack any good thing. Jesus is my wisdom and when I ask for His wisdom, He gives it to me generously and doesn’t hold back. I remain fixed and unwavering in my believing and trusting Him and His ways, regardless of what my eyes may see, ears may hear, or what my body may feel. God is faithful and will fulfill His promise to me.
lori k. snyder