Whether we want to admit it or not, we all want to be successful. How we define success, however, is different for each of us. Some people want millions of dollars, while others are happy with the presence of a healthy and happy family.
Many of us are actively focused on the things we need to gain in order to achieve our own version of success. Far fewer, however, are questioning the things that they need to let go of to get them there.
If a person craves for success, but their mindset, attitude, and daily behavior point them in a different direction, then they will never arrive at their destination. That's why in this article, we're going to suggest some of the biggest weaknesses and flaws that might be dragging you down, often without you fully realizing it. If you focus on minimizing and mitigating the role these factors play in your life, the path to your success will become clearer than ever before.
10 Things You Need to Let Go of to Find the Success You Crave
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. When I let go of what I have, I receive what I need.- Lao Tzu
Every insight below should be applied in a way that's appropriate to your own unique situation. If one of the factors below represents a bigger obstacle to your life goals, start with that one. Don't quit until you remove it, otherwise it'll stay with you for a long, long time.
If you want to find the success you crave, however you define it, it's important that you learn to let go of the following ten forces in your life.
1. Your negative beliefs
Our lives are a representation of our beliefs and mindsets, and everyone has a different mix of positive and negative ones. What you need to figure out is which beliefs are dragging you down.
For example, a negative belief would be that you're not worthy of love. From this simple belief, a lot of negative outcomes will arrive in your life. Now -- sit back and think about your most negative beliefs. Question them. Are they really true? Are they really worth living with?
2. Your comfort zone
Let's not forget about your comfort zones. Most people spend their lives without taking risks. They never desire more. Why?
Because the objective is often too hard to reach and the actions they need to take will put them through challenging moments. Well, if you want to become "above average," you need to act like most people don't.
3. Toxic people
Your social environment counts a lot. Toxic people -- people who constantly throw rocks at you or who pretend to be your friends -- should have no place in your life.
Even if you sometimes like hanging out with them, they'll rarely help you with your purpose. Their mindset and attitudes can only decrease your standards of success or interrupt you from achieving it.
4. Fear of failure
Fear of failure is the number one enemy of success. If you're afraid that you're going to fail, all of your actions and behaviors will show it. Your results will show it, and you'll soon feel that you're not good enough.
You can stop this negative cycle by removing the fear of failure from your life. Just assume that failures are feedback systems. If you fail, you get to learn that you haven't performed the right actions!
5. Materialistic goals
“Success is not about money!" Of course, many times, success will make your financial life easier to deal with. But beginning your journey towards success with the main purpose of earning cash is never the right way.
Therefore, removing materialistic thoughts and focusing on the journey is often a better strategy.
6. Your unhealthy lifestyle
An unhealthy lifestyle will cause you trouble in the longer run. By unhealthy lifestyle I do not only refer to your nutrition and exercising habits. I'm also talking about stress and other negative mental states.
You need to pay attention to both your physical condition and mental condition. When (and if) you reach success, making it sustainable -- and being able to actually enjoy it -- will require good habits and a healthy lifestyle
7. Multi-tasking
Yes, you need to let go of your multi-tasking habits immediately. Many studies confirm that single-tasking is a much better way of focusing your attention towards your work.
When you single-task, you can come up with more ways of dealing with challenges and you're reducing the risk of becoming overwhelmed.
8. Procrastination
Once you've decided that you want to be successful, there's no turning back. Procrastination will often intervene and it'll tempt you to give up. If you procrastinate on your taking action towards your goals, it means that you don't truly want it.
Not only does procrastinating mean that you don't crave it enough, but also that you're not worthy of it. The solution? Figure out what you really want. If you care about it enough, you won't procrastinate anymore!
9. Your desire for instant gratification
Most people today are looking for instant gratification. If a certain action, thing, or event gives you an immediate or short-term pleasure, you'll feel a strong urge to pursue that thing and reproduce the effect. But short-term pleasure is not the same as lasting happiness, and we have to learn to differentiate between the two.
Become aware of everything that leads to a feeling of instant gratification, and realize that it might not be as conducive to your long-term goals or purpose as you originally thought.
10. The past
Here's something to keep in mind. The past is merely an illusion. We remember what we have previously experienced and felt, but we remember imperfectly. Each time we think about a past event, we tend to modify the actual happening. Eventually, we will have an entirely different version of what actually happened.
Therefore, you need to live only in the present moment. If you failed fifty times before, it doesn't matter -- it's all in the past. Starting with this moment, you can change your mindset and life for the better!
Conclusion
If success were easy, all of us would have it. However, the fact that only a select few can reach it makes it much more interesting. After all, the ones who reach exceptional success are the truly exceptional individuals who fully focused on their personal and professional development.
And if you ever get discouraged along your path, don't forget that every successful person has failed countless times before arriving to their final destination. Failures are only feedbacks. They simply show you that you need to change your actions in order to get a different result!
