5 Simple Ways To Stop Sabotaging Your Success
By Simon Page
Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, just starting out, or you've been around for a while and already know the ropes, it's easy to let your subconscious sabotage your efforts when you're least expecting it.
If you're struggling with your motivation, experiencing self-doubt, questioning your ability, or letting other people's thoughts and opinions get in your way, here are some suggestions on things to do to help you bootstrap yourself, and get back on track!
1. Stop comparing yourself to others.
Whatever your endeavor, whether it’s a new skill, or learning a new trade, you will be exposed to people who are farther along than you are. You see them as they are, today, but you don’t see the struggle, mistakes and effort they have given to improve, a little, every single day. It’s easy to feel discouraged or inadequate to the task, but you have to remember that every journey is composed of thousands of steps.
It doesn't matter how many steps that other person has taken -- you'll get that far, in your own time. In the immortal words of Master Yoda, "When 900 years you reach, look this good you will not!". Luke is still a young kid when he first meets the ancient muppet.... imagine if he had given into despair because he wasn't as accomplished in the Force as Yoda?! That would've been a short movie!
Trust in yourself to learn the skills, and know that as you practice, you will improve, and eventually, you'll be just as good as those you admire today.
“Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”
- Jon Acuff
2. Don’t look outside yourself for validation.
Humans are social creatures, so it’s natural for you to want the approval of the ones you care about, but don’t convince yourself that their approval is necessary for you to follow your path. You know what is right for you. Trust your instincts. Make the decisions that resonate with you and give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
“The only permission, the only validation and the only opinion that matters in our quest for greatness is our own.”
- Dr. Steve Maraboli
3. Stop questioning yourself.
You aren’t perfect, but you have all the skills and potential that you’ve been working towards all your life. Trust in your ability to move forward, watch for mistakes, and make course corrections. You don’t have to see the end of the journey before you take the first step.
“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
- Unknown
4. Greatness takes time; cut yourself some slack.
If you don’t find yourself with instant and incredible success, that is okay! Every step you take is that much closer to your goals. Be patient, be consistent, and above all, be persistent... That’s not to say that you should be busy just for busy’s sake. Don’t get so caught up in finding things to work on that you work on things that don’t take you closer to your goals.
If you feel like you’re not making progress, take a moment to step back, reassess your goals, and ask yourself if the actions you’re taking are going to help you achieve them.
“Most people fail, not because of lack of desire, but because of lack of commitment.”
- Vince Lombardi
5. Don’t Be Such A Perfectionist
Everything doesn’t have to be perfect, with every "t" crossed and every “i” dotted, before you put a plan into motion. Don’t be afraid to take action, every single day. If you wait until everything is “just so”, or that you’re happy with every detail, you will never move forward.
Failure is a part of success, so don’t be afraid to just “put something out there” and see what happens. Remember, you can always adjust your sails when you see what direction the wind is blowing.
"Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success."
- Robert Kiyosaki
I hope this helps you, as it has me. Part of the exercise in writing this post for you was to address some of the same concerns in me. Feel free to come back to this post, as often as you like, to remind yourself of these tips.
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Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, just starting out, or you’ve been around for a while and already know the ropes, it’s easy to let your subconscious sabotage your efforts when you’re least expecting it.