A better life is within reach, but something is holding you back.
These 19 barriers to self-improvement are massive hindrances to living the life you want to live, but you can overcome them.
Fear of Failure
Society punishes failure at every turn, so it’s no surprise that people cringe at the very thought.
Overcome this fear by flipping the script. You didn’t fail – you learned something. Start small. Do something you’re not good at, and get comfortable with the poor results. Then, write down everything you learned from the failed attempt.
You’ll soon discover that failure is the key to knowledge.
Procrastination
As everything around us vies for attention, focusing on the right things becomes challenging. Getting lost on social media or in a book is far too easy.
To limit procrastination, set alerts and timers on your phone. These little pop-ups will remind you to stop scrolling and work toward your goals.
Mental Illness
People struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other mental illnesses have a more significant challenge toward improving their lives. There’s a massive barrier that seems insurmountable.
But it’s not.
Make an appointment with a specialist. They can help you find coping mechanisms, medication, and tools to help you live the life you deserve.
Unresolved Trauma
Unresolved trauma creates limiting beliefs. The lingering words from our abusive parents affect us well into adulthood.
Don’t let them win. Conduct shadow work to determine where the trauma came from. See a therapist to work through the issues and discover the happiness you truly deserve.
Lack of Money
Self-improvement costs money, and as the cost of living soars, many people can’t afford it.
However, there are ways to get around it. Free resources abound for people looking to improve their lives. Governments offer reduced-cost medical care and therapy programs, while online platforms offer free courses and learning opportunities.
If free resources don’t work, the online world offers plenty of opportunities to make extra money. Pick up a side hustle and dedicate your earnings to living a better life.
Fear of Unknown
Change is scary. Change creates growth, but that can come with massive upheaval, making a situation far worse. We may not like our situation, but it’s comfortable. It’s boring, but we know what to expect.
Sometimes, we have to face our fears head-on. Like Wayne Gretzky says, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Take the shot.
No Drive
We need motivation to change our lives. People can get stuck in a rut of complacency. Their situation is not great, but it’s good enough that they have no desire to change it.
If this speaks to you, ask yourself whether you’re happy. If so, good job! That’s the goal!
If not, you need to determine what would make you happy. Find the thing that motivates you. Some find inspiration in their children, others by pursuing a passion. Whatever it is, grab hold of it and don’t let go.
Disability
Chronic illness or disability makes life harder; there’s no escaping it. People with medical problems have much more to overcome in creating their best life than those blessed with good health.
Harder doesn’t mean impossible. Each illness is different, so talk to your doctor about what you can feasibly accomplish. You may need to change your perspective or goals to live an extraordinary life within your body’s limitations, and that’s okay. A good therapist can help you work through those changes.
The Past
Our past selves can be our worst enemies. We can’t stop thinking about missed opportunities and massive mistakes. These past failures prevent us from looking forward to what’s ahead.
The Lion King teaches vital lessons about the past. It can hurt, but you can either run from it or learn from it.
What are you going to do?
Work
We must spend at least forty hours per week to survive, often more. Our jobs take most of our time and energy, leaving precious little for pursuing our dreams.
Use the time to your advantage. Take on special assignments to enhance your skills. Use your network to find new opportunities. Make yourself indispensable while building a killer resume to advance your career.
Survival Mode
When life throws us too many curveballs, we enter survival mode just to get by. The last few years were tough for most of us. Anxiety levels are high, costs are rising, and many people feel that they can’t keep up.
Escaping survival mode is challenging but doable. Find ways to increase your income or decrease your responsibility. Take time for self-care to destress. Allow yourself to let go of the stress.
Apathy
Many young people give up on life. They think there’s no way to improve their lot, so they stop caring.
Apathy inhibits growth. You must find a way to care about something—anything. Cultivate relationships. Get a pet. See a therapist if you can’t find anything to hold on to that will motivate you to grow.
Too Much To Do
Between working forty hours per week, household chores, child care, and other responsibilities, many of us don’t have time to improve our lots in life. We run out of hours of the day.
It’s time to prioritize self-improvement. Let your kids entertain themselves and stop stressing about a perfectly clean home. Hire someone to help with chores a few times per week and address any unpaid labor disparities in your household.
You deserve time for yourself, too.
Burn Out
Nobody has limitless energy to pursue growth. After a long day, you may not have the energy for anything other than vegging in front of the television.
Self-care improves burnout. Walk around the block, enjoy a luxurious bath, or do a few stretches. Make time for self-care every day to refill those energy banks.
A few moments of self-care can give you the boost you need to apply for a less stressful job or spend a few minutes on a development opportunity. It’s vital to your wellness.
Family
Our families want the best for us but might not know what that means. Parents often stifle their children because they can’t understand that their kids might want something different out of life than they did.
Take your family’s advice with a grain of salt. You don’t have to live the life they want; you can live the life you want. It’s okay to do things your own way, regardless of what your parents think.
Unsure What You Want
Improving yourself in pursuit of a specific goal only works if you know what that goal is. What if you’re floundering, unsure of what you want? Why work towards something if you don’t know whether you’ll like it?
If uncertainty is your main barrier to growth, it’s time to shift your perspective. Life isn’t about the end goal; it’s about the journey.
Try things. If you decide you don’t enjoy them, move on and try something else. You’ll enjoy the full breadth of life’s offerings while discovering your true path.
Mindset
Do you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? Those with a fixed mindset may have limiting beliefs preventing them from succeeding.
People with a fixed mindset believe we are born with certain abilities and that it’s impossible to develop new ones. Those with a growth mindset know that’s not true.
Cultivate a growth mindset by challenging yourself to try new things. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can develop new skills when you open yourself up to the possibility.
Social Media
Social media is a bane of society. It showcases everyone’s highlight reels, making us feel incompetent by comparison. The addictive platforms promote the worst content, tricking our brains into anger for the sake of endless engagement.
Stop doomscrolling. You’re wasting countless hours on things that don’t truly matter. Put down your phone and engage in the world around you. You’ll be surprised at how much time you find for yourself when you stop engaging online.
You
You’re your own worst enemy. How many times do you engage in negative self-talk or obsess about a minor flaw that nobody else notices?
It’s human nature. We’re the center of our own universe.
However, you must stop bringing yourself down and stop caring so much about what others think. They probably didn’t notice nearly as much as you think they did, and even if they did, who cares? It’s your life, not theirs.
Let go of limiting beliefs and commit to living your best life.
Tips for Living Your Best Life
Are you ready to live your best life? Here are 37 ways to let go of the past and live a life of fulfillment. A better life starts today.