Goal Skills – Overcoming Obstacles

Progress toward goal achievement can sometimes be blocked by challenges and obstacles. Handling challenges can take courage, creativity, grit, and resilience. Some of the biggest obstacles are the ones that we create ourselves as we attempt to avoid discomfort. Here are some ways to deal with discomfort.

• Distractions – find focus, manage notifications
• Indecision – find options for solutions and decide.
• Self-sabotage – be mindful, practice compassion, learn about behavioral economics
• Confusion – if the path is unclear: gain clarity, make a plan, and be aware.
• Overwhelm – break projects down and prioritize tasks. The physical manifestations of stress are similar to excitement. Manage stress with self-care and try to re-frame it as excitement.
• Motivation – don’t wait to feel motivated, action doesn’t come from motivation. Motivation comes from action. Start with one small step. Can you tip the scales to up the benefits of results to overcome inertia?
• Fear – limit fear to the back seat: author Elizabeth Gilbert wrote a Letter to Fear.
• Obliviousness – notice what you are avoiding and understand why.
• Resistance – expect it will take effort, develop skills to get prepared.
• Triggers – recognize procrastination triggers and know how to deal with them.

Other things that can slap us in chains:

• Self-limiting beliefs – learned helplessness can prevent action. Choose realistic optimism to act with agency. Re-frame thinking to become resilient.
• Laziness – focus on the satisfaction that comes from hard work for a meaningful goal.
• Attitude – change from a negative attitude to an action oriented, can do attitude.
• Perfectionism – seek progress rather than perfection and begin to get important stuff done.

We also dislike taking a chance: as we learn and try new things, we explore the unknown. We might make a mistake, or experience failure or setbacks. We MUST overcome obstacles that might be encountered:

• Mistakes – mistakes can happen. Adopt a growth mindset.
• Uncertainty – face the unknown with courage.
• Setbacks – failure is a possibility. Try with an experimental mindset. Handle setbacks with grit and resilience.
• Take considered risks – build confidence with competence to live at the edge of the comfort zone.

Don’t let your own limiting beliefs, the comfort zone, distractions, or fears prevent you from doing what you want to accomplish, or from connecting with others. Examine your mental beliefs and RECLAIM agency to overcome obstacles.

• Remember realistic optimism
• Expand the comfort zone
• Cultivate courage and creativity
• Look at limiting beliefs
• Always be aware of distractions
• Include small steps
• Master a growth mindset
• Empowering self-talk
• Decide to develop determination

Of course, there can be external obstacles, and unknown obstacles that are not possible to plan for. Don’t let uncertainty, failures, or setbacks stop you. Gather all your resources, know how to solve problems, develop strengths, deal with time wasters, and keep trying.

The Victor poem by C.W. Longenecker

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s [person’s] will.
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man [person who ran].
But sooner or later, the man [person] who wins
Is the man [person] who thinks he [they] can.

If you want to get ahead, use the one you’ve got!

Learn more about How to Set Goals, use time well, and develop Self-Esteem.

About dailyplanit

I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.