Just like you I’ve spent time blaming others, waiting for help, and feeling entitled. I thought that my life was what it was because I didn’t have anyone to teach me how to attain the level of success that I wanted. Can I get a witness? Just say “I” if you’ve walked in these shoes!
I believed that my environment made me who I was and there wasn’t much I could do to change. The mindset, behavior, and lifestyle of the people around me seemed so ingrained that I told myself I couldn’t change even if I wanted to. Lol, man I was SO WRONG (and thank God for that!)!
When I began studying the bible I realized that I control my thoughts, actions, and destiny. I determine who I am and who I become. Not my past, not my environment, not my habits, I decide. *Whew!* just like that, the weight was lifted. The limitations were completely gone! I began to see myself in a new light, full of possibilities and capable of achieving anything. Don’t get me wrong, it took some time, but after I realized that I was in control of my life and it was my responsibility to maximize my potential I got to work.
I quickly denounced limiting beliefs, destroyed self-sabotaging habits and behaviors, and started my journey to personal freedom. I felt a real boost in my confidence and I had a sense of unlimited power. To be honest, up until this point I wasn’t even aware of the comfort zone I had built over the years. I was so comfortable with my excuses. I told myself that because I grew up in a single parent home with no one around to teach me about wealth I didn’t have a fair chance to succeed like other people did. It also didn’t help that I wasn’t the brightest kid in school (because I didn’t put in the effort), and I definitely didn’t have any special privileges or access to incredible resources. Yet, over the years I realized that the “odds” that I thought were stacked against me were actually benefits stacked in my favor.
My life experience was meant to build my character, make me smarter and turn me into an unstoppable success building machine. Nonetheless, if I wanted to benefit from my experience, I had to stop doing 3 things and decide to turn my limits into strengths and my excuses into my reason for doing something. Below I share my secrets for breaking free knowing that if I was able to change and create this beautiful life that I enjoy, you can do the same. First, you must…
In my mind, I complained about everything I was dissatisfied with my finances, my job, my friends, and ultimately my life. I couldn’t understand why my life was the way it was and all I wanted to do was complain and blame others for not teaching me how to achieve the things I wanted. Low and behold I WAS THE PROBLEM. Until I changed my mindset nothing in my life could have changed.
You have to get to the point where you stop complaining and start looking for ways to improve your life. Instead of looking for someone to point the finger at and blame for your failures use your energy to take responsibility for where you are right now and start finding solutions. Look for someone who is excelling in the things that you’re failing in. You could know them personally or they could be a public figure. Read their books, find out how they succeeded. Look for principles that you can apply to your life starting today and put in the effort to create better results for yourself.
Something I tell all of my clients is when you are striving to achieve a goal, the only time you can gently compare yourself to others is when you are considering what’s possible for yourself. Sometimes what you want to achieve hasn’t been done before so you have to go ahead and blaze the trail by being the example of what’s possible for others, but in most cases, what you want to achieve has been done and there are plenty of examples so why not use them?
When someone achieves the level of success that you desire instead of being jealous of what they’ve done glean confidence from their achievement knowing that if they’ve done it, you can do it too. One special principle that I’ve learned is if something has been done before it can be repeated. This means, if someone has climbed the toughest, most challenging mountain in the world and you have a desire to do the same, you now have an example of how to do it and what to do to get it done. The path has been paved for you so you don’t have to rock your brain trying to figure it all out. All you need is to identify the principles that were used, practice and apply them to your situation and in time you will be able to get the same results. Comparison is not supposed to cripple you. Simply use it as a learning tool and enjoy your personal process!
Now, there you have it! I’ve shared 3 practical proven ways to turn your limits into strengths and remove crutches that are holding you back. Comment below and let me know which one of these 3 you will start working on today. Trust me, if I could overcome my obstacles and become the woman you see today, you really have no excuse :). Until next time, xoxo!
