In today’s episode of the Inspiration2grow podcast we are talking about removing those barriers our minds create for us. You might be familiar with the situation of really wanting to chase down a goal you’ve been thinking about for some time now, but your mind starts getting in your way. I hope to offer you encouragement and inspiration to break down these barriers and take action today.
How often do we want to pursue something yet allow our minds to set up barriers or conditions? And, how often do we use this as an excuse for not moving forward?
If this doesn’t make much sense, stick with me. I will explain what I am getting at here.
It is quite normal to get hyped up about setting goals at this time of year. And to be honest, this week’s podcasts have a lot to do with goals. Episode 39 was all about the first steps in creating your life vision which means gaining clarity about the areas or pillars that make up your foundation. Under each pillar you will need to establish goals as benchmarks to determine whether you’re on the right track toward your ideal life vision or not.
In episode 40 I talked about the arguments for and against sharing your goals with others. I think I presented a fairly strong case for one side of the argument. Be sure to go back and have a listen if you haven’t already.
So, a bit of theme has been set for this week. Not surprising because most emails, social media posts and short segments of our daily news broadcasts are talking about goals. You can hear everything from: types of goals to set, how to lay out your goal plan, the concept of SMART goals (in case you haven’t heard this acronym before -> S means specific, M means measurable, A means achievable, R stands for relevant and T stands for the time frame or time period in which you will reach this goal).
Truth be told, we are completely inundated by this topic. So, it’s no wonder this theme is front and center in my mind.
When I speak to people about their goals, in particular their fitness goals, I often here these phrases:
· Well, I would like to get fit, but I don’t know where to start.
· Sure, I want to lose weight, but I haven’t found the right diet for me.
· I want to begin strength training, but I know nothing about it.
Many people put up barriers in their minds before they even give themselves a chance to take the first initial steps toward their goals.
They feel defeated before even starting.
In a way, they have validated to themselves that this idea or goal is doomed to fail.
Does this resonate with you?
This is by no means helpful thinking, and if you want to achieve anything in life, you’re going to have to change your outlook now.
I guess, in a sense, by saying things like this, you are waiting for someone to swoop in and solve your problems of ‘not knowing’.
Believe me, I have been there. Many years ago, you could catch me saying things like this too. Mine went something like this…
· I really want to write a book, but I just don’t know where to start.
· I want to improve my level of fitness, but I don’t have the time.
Have you ever said something along these lines to yourself?
“I want to do X, but I need Y.”
If so, you’re either postponing your goal or trying to find a reason to NOT pursue it or you’re self-sabotaging yourself right from the word go.
Referring back to my original question:
How often do you pursue (or want to pursue) something but there is something ‘standing’ in your way?
· I want to write a book, but I need a degree in creative writing.
· I want to learn Spanish, but I need…
· I want to start working out, but I need…
· I want to make more money, but I need…
· I want to teach yoga, but I need to be certified.
These are just some examples that came to mind, but you get the idea. The goal is the first part of the sentence and the means is the second part.
Can I share a secret with you? These are merely excuses. Unless you want to change professions or your desired goal is regulated, YOU REALLY DON’T NEED ANYTHING TO GO AFTER YOUR GOAL.
Too often we have certain conditions in our minds. We conjure up reasons or obstacles that are holding us back. We think we need to have certain credentials or things like time or money, otherwise, we simply can’t do the ‘thing’ we want.
When I started my first business in Austria straight out of university, I was 27. I could tell that people in my environment didn’t take me entirely seriously. They thought I was too young to open a private language school, I didn’t have enough experience, I didn’t know how to run a business profitably, and so on.
However, 15 years after embarking on that scary, but exhilarating entrepreneurial journey, I had built up a wildly successful private school for both children and adults, local companies and their teams, CEOS, business owners, hotel managers and their staff.
But, here’s the point.
If I had let myself be held back by the thought:
I want to start my own private school, but I need to be certified…
I would NEVER have taken the leap I did to open my school, run it the way I wanted to, scaled it each year and sold it for a fair profit before moving back to Canada.
Did I have training as a business owner? Did I study marketing? Did I have a title in front of my name?
No. No. and No.
I simply had a dream which morphed into an audacious goal. Did I have to conquer fear? Absolutely. But my resolve to be successful outweighed my fear of failing.
I applied myself. I focused on what I wanted to accomplish. I went after my goal so fiercely that failure really wasn’t an option. I preserved through good and also bad times. I made mistakes but I learned from them.
So,
What’s your end goal?
I want you to think about the things YOU want to achieve. What’s holding you back? And after today’s talk, I hope you say -> nothing really.
Get over your excuses.
Get over those lingering thoughts that are holding you back.
Become curious about the HOW. How can you make it happen? And find a way.
Become extremely focused and unwavering in your will to succeed.
Take the first steps. Try those on for size. Then take the next step. Feel good about yourself for each and every step.
Give yourself permission to succeed.
The key is… you want to make it so easy for yourself to do that ‘thing’ that you will actually do it.
When you think “I need (blank) to do (blank)” you create friction, and your mind sets conditions about what is standing between YOU and YOUR GOAL.
My goal and work revolve around helping people become less rigid in their thinking patterns. What matters is that you think things through, all the way to the end and reverse engineer how you will get to your end goal.
Remember that we can never get back time spent. We have to make the days count and ensure every significant endeavor we start is worth it.
You don’t have to feel ‘ready’ or ‘worthy’ to start on a new goal adventure.
You are good enough to start. You are good enough no matter what. Never forget that!
We can’t always be sure that the goals we pursue will work out. I hope most of them do. But, in reality, I reach about 80% of my goals and I am happy with that.
Just know…you do not need any validation before you start. Ditch the excuses that are getting in your way. Take one step at a time toward your goal and be pleased with yourself for doing so.
My only hope is that you start to implement some of the ideas, tips and strategies that I talk about and I would love to know which ones have been beneficial for you personally.
I would also like to invite you to become part of the Inspiration2grow community on Facebook. The group name is: Inspiration2grow for Female Goal-getters. It is meant to be a community of like-minded women who want to grow strong from the inside out. There will be daily journalling prompts, nutrition and fitness tips, exercises to try, encouraging conversations among the community and lots more. So, be sure to join this group for support, new ideas and the necessary rocket fuel to propel your health and wellness to new heights.
You owe it to yourself to take care of yourself, show up for yourself and become the best version of YOU.
So, in case you haven’t heard it yet today, let me be the first to tell you…
You are incredible, capable and your potential is limitless. Never forget that and I believe in you 100%. Now, go out there and show the world what you are truly made of.
Thanks for listening and I hope to have inspired you to grow.
Til next time,
Lisa xoxo
