Top 7 Things That May Be Holding You Back From Success

Today’s self improvement ideas focus on recognizing what is holding you back.  After all, acknowledgment of a problem is the first step towards creating change.

You may know by now that your thoughts create your reality, but there is usually something in your life that is driving those thoughts. Of the  many ways that people can hold themselves out of alignment with their desires, at least one of these top 7 is typically an issue.

Jealousy and Envy

There is nothing wrong with admiring what other’s have; however, you do yourself a disservice by thinking negatively about their prosperity.  Do you know what you’re attracting when you’re focused on how unfair it is that someone else has the car, job, spouse, kids, and house that you desire?  The answer: lack, lack, and more lack.  Instead of being envious, try appreciating those who have more for inspiring you to create these things in your reality.

Bad Relationships

When two or more people focus together, they are engaging in the powerful act of co-creating.  However, this can be detrimental if the focus is a negative one.  A bad relationship can influence you to offer a negative thought vibration into the Universe, which disallows the manifestation of your desires.

If you’re stuck in a bad relationship, you may notice that you feel stuck in other parts of your life.  That new job, house, or other desire may remain just out of your reach.  It’s amazing how negative thoughts about one part of your life can spill over into every other part of your experience.  If you love yourself and the person you’re holding onto, make a commitment to either fix the relationship or let it go.

Working a Job You Hate

Are you one of the many people who wake up dreading the day to come, spend 8 or more hours wishing you were somewhere else, and then come home complaining about how horrible your day was?  If so, how do you expect to attract anything but more undesirable circumstances?  After all, you’re dedicating a significant amount of your energy to something you despise.

From a place of appreciation, love, and belief in yourself, you can enjoy the miraculous manifestation of whatever work you desire. If you want a different career opportunity, start allowing it to manifest by finding moments to appreciate the job that you currently have.

Maybe there is nothing to appreciate except the color of the bathroom wallpaper or one pleasant colleague, but you must give your attention to whatever positive aspects you can find.  Otherwise the misery that you feel at work will either keep you stagnant or follow you to the next job.  And no unreasonable boss, rude co-worker, or unfair company policy is worth that.

Negative Circle of Friends

As my mother always said, “birds of a feather flock together.”  Unless you have spent years training yourself to maintain a positive thought vibration under all circumstances, it is highly likely that negative friends will pull you down.  For many people, this also includes family members.

If you are surrounded by negative, discouraging, pessimistic people who don’t inspire you to reach for your dreams, it is time to make some tough decisions.  Do you want to remain just like the other birds in your flock? Or do you want to spread your wings and soar like an eagle?

Inner-self Neglect

Unfortunately most of us spend so much time focused on what we want from the world that we completely neglect the larger part of who we are.  When you don’t take the time to quiet your mind, meditate or pray, relax, and nurture the spiritual you, the effects become evident in your physical body.  And what typically comes next?  Trips to the doctor for treatments that sometimes help the symptoms but never fix the core issue.  Learn to listen to your body and give your attention to the whole you—not just the shell that the world sees as you.

Fear

There are very few things as capable as fear of cutting you off from the benefits of our great Universe.  Fear has the potential to paralyze you from the inside out.    And the odd thing is that there is no real reason for it.

If we will simply learn to guide our thoughts and hold beliefs that benefit us, then we have complete control over how we experience this life.  However, people who live with fear do not realize how empowered they are in this world.  If you fear financial lack, you may remain in a dead end job or an unhappy marriage for the financial benefits.  If you fear crime, you may watch the news obsessively and avoid doing things that you love.  If you fear getting fat, you may worry so much about food that you never truly enjoy a meal.  All of these fear based actions will suck the joy from your life and prevent you from attaining that which you call success.

Anger and Resentment

No matter who you are or where you are from, someone has made you mad.  We’ve all felt betrayed, mistreated, or misunderstood at some point in our lives.  However, lingering anger that hangs around for years is only felt by the person who is angry.  In the words of Buddha, “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”  Letting go of anger isn’t always easy, but holding onto is detrimental to your well-being.  If you want to give another person power over your life, hold a grudge against him or her.

Blog posts with related self improvement ideas:

The Benefits of Anger and How to Let It Go

Using Law of Attraction In Relationships

Tagged as: Awareness, Emotions, Life lessons, Success