10 Lies That Are Keeping You From Success

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Too often I read emails from people expressing how they would love to participate in a certain activity, profession, adventure, etc., but cannot because (insert list of excuses here).  Sometimes things we want to do are unattainable.  I understand that at this point in life I am probably not going to be an astronaut; and I am okay with that.

But I think we learn to make excuses too quickly and learn to accept the status quo way to easily.   And then sometimes we simply learn to lie to ourselves.  And the lying is tough to swallow.  I have compiled my list of the 10 basic lies we tell ourselves that are keeping us from success (success defined as achieving any goal):

radiolive.co

radiolive.co

1.  I am too old/it is too late.  It is never too late to do the right thing and it is never too late to chase your dreams!  The longer you procrastinate the older you will be when you begin…so begin now. Lots of people look back on life with regrets…don’t be one of those people.

2.  I don’t have any money.  I can say this is at the top of most people’s excuse/lie list.  You can create “extra” money right now if you eliminate lots of unnecessary spending: Starbucks, cable tv, satellite radio, expensive or multiple car payments, etc.  You don’t need more money, you need a better budget!

3.  It’s safer to work for someone else.  I guess that is one way to look at life.  Here’s another: your future is never safe when someone else has the power to terminate you!  “If you do not build your dream, then someone else will hire you to help build theirs!” –  Dhirubhai Ambani.  And just because something is safer, does not mean it is better!

4.  It’s not the right time.  Those that have kids know there is never a perfect time in life to have kids and so it is with dream chasing.  If you wait on perfect timing, you will find yourself waiting your entire life.  And then you realize time has passed you by!  

5.  I can’t afford to fail.  Do yourself a favor and Google the top 10 wealthiest, self-made people.  Their careers are littered with failed businesses and bankruptcies.  Failing is the greatest teacher. And although failing might be part of the game, it is not the end of the game.

6.  I’m not smart enough.  If this lie is in your mind, then add an additional step to your plan: get more education.  Enroll in a night class at your local community college.  Or take advantage of free educational opportunities online!

thinkgeek.com

thinkgeek.com

7.  It’s too much work.  Nothing worth having comes easy and things that come easy usually don’t have high value.  Sitting on your couch gaming, eating Cheetos, texting your friends and picking your nose hasn’t launched you into the stratosphere so let’s develop a work ethic.

8.  I am not good enough.  I was hired to run a golf course as the golf pro at age 27.  I kind of knew what I was doing, but wasn’t 100% prepared.  I learned how to do the job by doing the job.  You will never have complete knowledge of any topic so stop believing this lie.  You will never be fully prepared to do anything in life, but it should not keep you from moving forward. Ever heard the saying “fake it till you make it?”

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9.  Change is too scary.  The only thing in life that is consistent is change.  Friend circles change, jobs change, people change, cars, schools, policies,  finances, etc.  Everything changes and it can be scary sometimes, but everything will be fine.  Change can be a good thing as it can serve as the catalyst for advancing yourself.  Also, if your dreams don’t scare the crap out of you, then you aren’t dreaming big enough.

10.  It’s just not realistic at this point in life.  My least favorite word is “realistic.”  To me when someone says be realistic, I hear them say just settle for the norm like the rest of the herd!   Being realistic is a matter of perspective: let your imagination run crazy and refuse to be realistic!

I want you to stop and spend a few moments taking inventory of yourself: what lies have you allowed or are you allowing to rob you of advancing yourself or reaching a goal?  Feel free to share with me in the comments!

32 thoughts on “10 Lies That Are Keeping You From Success”

  2. Love it! I recognise all points. I’ve told myself all of them so far in my life at different points and I constantly have to remind myself that it’s all BS! All I need is to put myself into it and do it…

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  3. I think I have also used every single one of these excuses at some point in my life. The only way I manage to talk myself out of them is to focus on small baby steps each day that work towards the larger goal.

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. How can a mother of four not admit that my kids provided more than a few convenient excuses as to why I couldn’t (fill in the blank.) Now that my youngest just left for college I have two choices..adopt a baby or embrace the rest of my life without fear.

    Hmmm, tough choice (not) – haha 😇

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  7. Oh, this appeals to me a lot! I am about to start my research for my doctoral thesis and I am excited and scared at the same time! I really don’t like stepping out of my comfort zone but everytime I do, wonderful things happen. 🙂
    Thank you for this! xoxo

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  8. I have probably said all of them at one time. Now my disability holds me back from possible old dreams, but I have new ones and I am working on them. My blog for instance has become my goal in life.

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  9. Pingback: How Do I Know When I Am Lying to Myself? | Dream Big, Dream Often

  15. My biggest problems are security, change, and not feeling like I am good enough. I know they are lies, but it is hard to convince and remind myself, if that makes sense. But you are right, the lies don’t serve me, and I shouldn’t be putting any stock into them. Thanks for the kick in the butt.

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  16. Pingback: My Picks Of The Week #39 | A Momma's View

  17. I often hear all those things about travel. People can’t understand how i can have left my life three years ago and not regretted it. It’s to expensive, to scary, to much hard work, to unknown but if something is worth doing you will find all these excuses drop away and become a reason to conquer that dream.

    A great read and i look forward to reading more posts.

    Like

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