You are Your Greatest Enemy

Have you become the person you want to be? Have you reached your goals or achieved milestones that you're proud of? If so, congratulations! If not, why? What's holding you back?

I believe that there are two major things that hold people back from achieving their dreams: Fear and self-pity. Sure, circumstances play a part, but it will still come back to these two reasons. 

Fear is one of the strongest emotional forces we feel. This primal emotion has kept us alive for thousands of years.  While fear can preserve your life, it can also hinder your progression through it. I'm certain we've all turned down a great opportunity because we were afraid. 

Self-pity is a little more complex. If something traumatic has happened, it's perfectly normal and acceptable to feel sorry for yourself. Also, we need a little self-pity in order to make sure we take care of ourselves! When that self-pity keeps you from reaching your full potential, it's become a problem. When you start singing the "Woe is Me" song as soon as someone starts asking the hard questions, then you've succumbed to self-pity. 

The good news? You don't have to succumb to those forces any longer. You have the power to move past those forces to better your life. 

This can be you :)

Identify: Where have these emotions held you back? What triggers them? Why have you succumb to them? Progress can't be made until you can answer "why."

Plan: Now that you know why this is happening to you, you need to figure out a way to combat it. When you feel yourself give into these emotions, what are you going to do resist?

Act: The first two steps are all for nothing unless you follow through. When you're presented with a situation where fear or self-pity could hold you back, will you follow your plan and fight it?

I recently learned that my hours were being cut drastically this fall. I knew it was coming, but I was in a blissful state of ignorance.  I didn't realize how much of a problem it would be until it was right there in front of me. I began walking down the road of self-pity. This wasn't bad at first, since I had ever right to be worried and upset. It then joined the path of fear, where I began wondering if I could even pay my bills this fall. Would I be able to make it?

My first reaction: panic

Then the September schedule came out. I looked at it, and my heart dropped. The first words out of my mouth were, "I need to get a second job." It was both an obvious statement and a full realization of what needed to happen. I started taking steps, and now I'm waiting to hear back on a job. If it doesn't work, I'll keep looking!

Am I scared for my near future? You bet. Do I feel sorry for myself? Unfortunately, yes. Yet it has not stopped me from making positive change in my life. I will not be a victim of circumstance, because I intend to make my own.

No complaints. No excuses. Just actions.

I want to hear your thoughts and plans! Comment below or tweet me at @Violet_Lyte !