By: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Sr. Associate Editor-ICN Group
KOLKATA: In the past article, we understood how to identify your ‘plus’ and ‘minus’ points. Today, we will see how to identify the possible obstacles in the wake of reaching your goals.
Identify the possible obstacles
Big success is not going to come to you smoothly. It will pose some obstacles on the way, as nothing is smooth in life. Even small pleasures are difficult to get and difficult to sustain. Obstacles & setbacks are bound to come on the surface. Though you can’t predict the unforeseen, still you should make your best efforts to list down all the potential obstacles coming in your way to achieve the goal, whether big or small. Are there any physical challenges or adverse circumstances, which may come in your way? If you can foresee, list them and make strategy to overcome them.
First look for the reasons, why you have not progressed much towards your goals so far. What are the causes, blocking your progress? Identify your biggest obstacle, which is holding you back so far. You will find that most of the reasons are internal reasons like poor self-esteem, poor communication skills, poor selling skills, poor motivational level, poor knowledge of your work, blaming others for your failures etc. Remember, once you start asking question to yourself as to what is inside you, which is holding you back, the answers will start flowing like anything.
Successful people always think about solutions while unsuccessful people always think & talk about problems. Problem solving is a technique and can be learnt like any other skill. We have already discussed two major obstacles in achieving goals, namely self-limiting beliefs and negative time utilisation habits. Here, we will discuss more major obstacles.
Fear of failure
Whether we accept it or not, everyone experiences fear of failure at some point of time in life. Fear of failure often drags people downwards and even stops people from taking their first step towards their goal. This is due to negative ideas of self or others. Improving our self-image by working upon our belief system is the best antidote to fears of all kinds. Further, the goal setting process also cures fear of failure, because during goal setting process, huge projects are reduced into the much smaller and doable tasks. Once you are confident that you can take small steps towards success, your confidence level boosts and daily action increases. Still, if you don’t succeed initially, do not consider failure as end of life. Take out some valuable learning out of your failure and move ahead.
Lack of focus
Instead of focussing on our goals and working upon to achieve them, we often get carried away by the opinion of others and lose our focus from our goals. We should pursue what is in our heart and never leave our dream to the opinion of others. Les Brown says, what others think of you is none of your business.
Excuses – Lack of determination
A person who makes excuses for everything is bound to fail everywhere. You must have heard about the persons who make excuses for everything. Why they could not do something; why they did not do something; right opportunities did not come to them; environment was not favourable; government policies were unfavourable; the wind was not set in their direction. Be assured, until you stop making excuses, you will not succeed. The opportunities will come and go untapped. John Maxwell says, “Excuses are the exit signs on the road of progress.”
We have to choose between excuses or determined actions. We can either choose making excuses over performing; we can choose comfort zone over taking necessary actions; we can choose watching television over reading useful books; or alternately, we can choose to discipline ourselves to make necessary changes in our lifestyles; we can start morning walks, exercises, meditations; maintaining good relationships; increasing our productivity by improving skills. You have the choice, but remember, you have no right to cry upon the unwanted results, unless you are ready to work upon the causes.
(In the next article, we will know how to come out of your comfort zone to achieve all your goals. I believe that you are enjoying the journey towards the future of your dreams with me. If yes, please stay tuned every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday. Happy G.O.P.T.A.)
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Creator & copyright holder of the concept G.O.P.T.A.© is an Author, Certified NLP Lifestyle Master Practitioner, Corporate Trainer & Motivational Speaker and recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Excellence (Management) by prestigious Young Scientist University, California, USA. He is Founder of ‘Read, Learn & Earn Movement’ and is popularly known among his fans & followers across the globe as ‘Time and Goal Guru’.
