STEP 2 Overcoming Obstacles
Optimize your results and overcome common obstacles to accomplishing your objectives and livin’ the dream. Consider the following check-up questions:
- How am I today, right now? How has my week been?
- What do I want to get out of the next step?
- What action did I take the past week? What were my wins/challenges?
- What do I want to hold myself accountable for this week, today?
- What issues do I want to dig deeper on? What are the challenges, concerns, achievements, or areas of learning to focus on?
- Debrief in your journal on your progress.
The Landmines Standing Between You and Your Goal
Setting goals is the first step. Achieving them is the second step. And it’s at this second step that most of us stumble. We stumble not because the goal is unachievable, but rather because of unexpected obstacles and challenges that arise along the journey that make the goal seem impossible.
It’s important to understand that every goal we set naturally comes with a plethora of landmines that are attached to it. These landmines show up in our lives as a set of obstacles, challenges, and problems that we must surpass in order to get to our end destination, which is our goal. In fact, unless we successfully maneuver through these landmines and overcome them, then we will fail to learn the valuable lessons that are required to help us achieve — and keep — our goal when we get to that end destination.
Let’s come to deal with the obstacles that you will likely face as you progress along your journey towards the attainment of your rehabilitation and lifestyle objectives.
Types of Obstacles You May Face
There are three types of obstacles that you will likely face along your journey towards your goals. These include personal obstacles, environmental obstacles, and social obstacles. Each is outlined separately below.
Personal Obstacles
Personal obstacles are related to our psychology, behaviors, and state-of-mind. They can include limiting habits, debilitating emotions, fears, and beliefs. These obstacles prevent us from moving forward towards the attainment of our goals and objectives because of the thoughts that we tend to dwell upon every day. These thoughts naturally prevent us from making effective decisions and undertaking the actions that will help us create the momentum we need to get to our end destination.
Here is a list of personal obstacles that could be preventing you from moving forward in your life:
- Lack of pain
- Lack of discipline
- Lack of knowledge
- Lack of inspiration
- Lack of desire
- Lack of skill
- Fear of change
- Fear of failure
- Feeling unworthy
- Procrastination
- Perfectionism
- Disorganization
- Pessimistic thoughts
- Too many time constraints
- Too much complacency
- Too much blaming of self and others
- Too many excuses
- Too much complaining
Identify if any of these obstacles are currently preventing you from getting what you want most out of life, and choose today to take control of your thought patterns and begin making better and far more effective decisions.
Social Obstacles
Social obstacles are related to people who either do not cooperate with you, sabotage you, or are simply incompetent and unable to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them.
When it comes to social obstacles, it’s important to do a little forward planning, to make sure that you clarify your needs adequately, your knowledge thoroughly, and your instructions carefully — ensuring that that the communication doesn’t break down at any stage. It also helps to develop good strong bonds and relationships with the people you rely on most.
You will go out of your mind if you try to control everyone’s behavior, decision, and action. Instead try to subtly influence people and understand their needs, motives, and desires. Only in this way will you successfully improve your chances of maneuvering through the social obstacles in your life.
Environmental Obstacles
Environmental obstacles are often unexpected conditions, occurrences, and circumstances that you have very little control over.
Because these events and circumstances are unexpected, we are often ill-prepared and unable to deal with them effectively. However, if we do a little research and use some forward planning we may be able to predict and oftentimes influence these occurrences by setting into place contingency plans. To do this, begin by following Murphy’s Law:
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong at the worst possible time. So what are you going to do about it?
When you plan for the future, you gather a better understanding of the possible scenarios and consequences of your decisions and actions. Planning also gives you insight into additional resources you may need to help you overcome environmental obstacles that lie on the journey ahead.
Numerous Ideas to Help You Overcome Your Obstacles
When confronted with obstacles, problems, and challenges, it’s easy to become a little overwhelmed, especially when the circumstances are unfamiliar and seem a little threatening and urgent. However, no matter what life throws your way, keep in mind that there are always options available, there are always things you can do, actions you can take, and decisions you can make that will keep moving you forward in the right direction.
- Step back emotionally.
- Gain necessary resources and support.
- Acquire different perspective.
- Seek guidance.
- Breathe, take control, and take action.
- Adjust your priorities.
- Assess your obstacles.
- List possible options.
- Ask effective questions.
- Experiment in new directions.
- Accept and acknowledge circumstances.
- Think critically and creatively.
- Take small steps.
- Make necessary sacrifices.
- Learn from mistakes.
- Keep things simple.
- Cultivate self belief and confidence.
- Cultivate calmness.
- Cultivate an active mindset.
- Don’t dwell on the negatives.
- Don’t throw blame on yourself or others.
- Don’t look for sympathy.
- Don’t quit.
And cultivate these indispensable qualities, as those who successfully overcome obstacles in their lives consistently cultivate the following qualities:
- Discipline
- Commitment
- Foresight
- Resilience
- Enthusiasm
- Gratitude
- Optimism
- Curiosity
- Patience
Final Thoughts
Take time to learn the lessons that life throws your way, because these lessons will be critical to your success as you move forward in life. Commit yourself to developing the skills on this page to see yourself manifest the life you dream of.

