The roadblocks that prevent us from creating our dream life are usually all self-made. Those who are successful have recognized and overcome these obstacles. They did it by facing the truth and developing new habits.
Sometimes it’s not easy to face the truth. And it certainly isn’t easy to establish new habits. I have found that the more I face what I am afraid of and the less I analyze things and just begin the more often I am successful.
I have adopted a simple way of dealing with procrastination regardless of the reason, be it fear or laziness, by simply saying to myself, “No excuses! Get going!” That’s it. Sounds ridiculously simple, but it works. Our minds can come up with a long list of excuses and fears if we let it. The secret is to take control of it by taking action and focusing on positive results.
Let’s move on to the roadblocks. They are common. They are nearly impenetrable. And they are dream crushers. The solution is to simply go around them, continue on, and then avoid them in the future. Here are the most common.
Fear
Fear is a mighty roadblock. It stops us even before we reach the roadblock. In other words, it prevents us from even trying.
The key to overcoming a fear is amazingly simple. Face it and go toward it. Do this and you’ll soon realize more often than not that the giant boogeyman was just your “negative” imagination. In short order, if you continue to go forward, you’ll overcome your fear and be rewarded with courage!
Negative Thinking
Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” Therefore, it is. If you have developed a habit of negative self-talk about whether you can do something, you are sabotaging your ability to succeed.
Our thoughts are powerful! They can change our body’s chemistry in a few seconds. Try it now. Imagine in detail one of your most important dreams like living in your dream home or driving your new dream car. How do you feel? Now imagine in detail continuing to live where you now do or worse for the rest of your life. Then imagine continuing to drive the car you now have or worse for the rest of your life. How do you feel? Do you see the difference?
To achieve your dream life, develop the habit of directing your thoughts toward positive self-talk and the results you want! Here’s how to develop the habit. First, you decide you’re going to change it. Then you prepare a response in advance to negative self-talk like “Stop! Go to positive.” You do the same with negative thoughts about what you can accomplish.
Pessimistic Friends
Negative comments and criticism from friends or family about your dreams and your ability to attain them can crush your spirits. How can their comments be so damaging? This happens because these people are important to you. You want their support. The truth is, you may not get it during the time you need it most.
The best, most reliable, and continuous supporter on your journey to your dreams is you! You must be your own best friend. You must be the one who always has the encouraging and positive comments and thoughts for yourself.
Here’s how to deal with friends and family who bring you down.
- You stop trying to convince them, sell them, and recruit them. Instead, you give yourself what you need and you seek out those who support or share your dreams.
- You stop giving them updates on your progress toward your dreams. If the negativity is severe, you might have to make the subject of your dreams off-limits!
- You limit the amount of time you spend with them. If your relationship is toxic generally, you cut off contact or end the relationship.
Alcohol & Pharmaceutical Drugs
The most sinister and unexpected destroyer of dreams is alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs. They are ominous and unanticipated because alcohol and pharmaceutical psychiatric drugs are legal.
If you are drinking more often and in greater quantities than you know you should, you are gradually destroying your dreams. If you have been brainwashed by a lifetime of exposure to advertisements by pharmaceutical companies, like we all have, about how their drug will give you the courage and mental strength to achieve your dreams, the truth is they will not. The most you’ll get is a foggy so-called “normally” and zero to limited personal growth.
There are situations where psychiatric drugs are needed, but these cases are extremely rare. If you choose to stop taking one of these drugs, it’s important that you do it safely by gradually weaning yourself off them under the direction and supervision of your doctor. Keep in mind that doctors have been brainwashed twice as much as us through direct face-to-face marketing by pharmaceutical representatives. So make your own decisions on this and be firm on what you want with your doctor.
Do you want to know if one or both of these drugs are creating roadblocks? Simply test it. To test it, you just stop drinking or taking the so-called “medication” for 1-6 months and see what happens. During this period, pay close attention to whether you advance faster, more effectively, and more smoothly toward your dream life than you were before.
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This is a frequent topic on this site. It is revisited because it is the foundation for all self-improvement and personal transformation toward the lifestyle you want. Sometimes when we an article about a subject that we’ve read before but it is written in a way that resonates with us, we finally get it and are motivated to take action. This is my strategy with this crucial topic.