Four Obstacles that Hinder Goal Achievement and Success

Having a clearly defined purpose is key to developing resilience. Many of the biggest roadblocks to attaining a goal are within your mind. While not always the case, this is generally true. Attaining your goals and purpose often requires creativity because not every path can be easily navigated. There will be twists and turns to it. You must learn through trial and error, and devise new plans as needed to achieve your goals. You are bound to come across many challenges, some self-imposed and others, a result of circumstances. By recognizing these hurdles and knowing how to tackle them, you can get the results you want with less stress and anxiety. How do you attain this?

1.      Busyness

Being busy doesn't always equate to being productive. Simply staying occupied with tasks doesn't guarantee efficiency or results. Having plans and goals without setting time limits on them can also be futile. Remember, the world changes rapidly, making today's solutions potentially obsolete tomorrow.

To achieve your goals effectively, it is important to manage your time efficiently and stay organized. Create a plan and set specific deadlines for yourself. Instead of waiting until the end result, regularly assess your progress and adjust as necessary. You don't need a fancy app to manage your time; simply write down your plan and track your progress according to the timeline you've established. This will enable you to monitor the execution of your plans and observe the progress being made.

2.      Criticism 

Another challenge you may encounter is criticism from others. Listening to what people are saying can keep you from going after what you want. It keeps you from moving down the path you are meant to take to achieve your goals. It is a distraction to what it is you are after. Remember, others do not define your worth; you determine that for yourself. You can show up as your authentic self and you do not need others’ approval to pursue your dreams. 

A person who is confident in themselves does not seek out others’ validation or popularity. They are not concerned with petty issues when they have a purpose to fulfill. When someone is criticizing you or your work, you need not justify or defend yourself. You know what is essential. You are not here to win brownie points. You have a purpose.

It is important however that you understand the motivation behind your actions. Outcome may be necessary, but so is intention. Striving for perfection may not necessarily lead you to your desired outcome. Setting small, imperfect goals can still help you progress towards your larger goals. Bear in mind that trying to be perfect keeps you stagnant.

Do not measure your work by the benchmark others set for you, but by your own progress. Your work has meaning. Understand that vulnerability is a risk you must take if you are to have a purposeful journey. You may face rejection. You may face criticism, but the rewards are worth more than the risks.  

3.      Failure 

It won’t be easy to attain goals. If it were, there would be no reason to discuss perseverance or anything else for that matter. You must work hard but acknowledge that failure is a possibility. Many times, success and failure go hand in hand. Without failure, there can be no success. This fear of failure often keeps people from going after their dreams and goals. 

Fear of failure can take on many forms. Sometimes it can be camouflaged as perfectionism, other times as procrastination. Perfection is an indicator of low self-esteem and procrastination is a form of avoidance. 

No one is immune to failure. Failure is the steppingstone toward success. Everybody will fail at some point, but the bounce back can lead to success. Even the most successful people have failed before. In fact, they are well acquainted with failure. They understand that failure is not an end but a way to learn what changes need to be made to ensure they follow the right path. They know their self-worth and do not allow failures to define them.

Without self-regulation, it is easy for that fear of failure to grow. It is why you must be mindful of it. Fear is inevitable, but the key is to pursue your goals regardless of the fear. The exposure helps to build courage. When you fixate on an outcome instead of the process, it usually leads to fear of failure. 

            Failure is a steppingstone toward success.

You cannot be safe and great simultaneously. It doesn’t work that way. If you take a risk that you fail at, you learn what does not work and find another path that guides you to your end goal and purpose. You don’t need to change a purpose when you fail. You just use it as a feedback mechanism to help you adjust and find a way that ensures you meet that purpose you want.  

Do not avoid failure because you are scared of the possible outcome! The idea is to take responsibility even when you know failure could occur and use the knowledge gained to make changes along your path to success. 

People with low self-esteem or self-doubt have a more difficult time overcoming fear of failure. If this is you, you must confront the fear by committing to actions that help you achieve your goal. Begin small so you don’t feel overwhelmed by it. Small steps can lead to more significant opportunities and guide you down the right path. The key is to get started and the path will become clearer.  

4.      Scripting

Before you start your journey toward your goals, it is key to change your mindset from “I can’t” to “I can.” If you continue to do what you have always done, you will not get what you are after in your life. You stick with the familiar and known rather than venturing into the unknown. You go with a career or role that doesn’t really align with what you want. 

• Were you given a script that you acted on?

• Is what you do something you were encouraged to do by your family? 

• Were you told that you were not capable of doing what you wanted to do?

If you are repeatedly told something, your mind begins to believe it, and you stick to the familiar. It becomes engrained in your brain. The messages that were emphasized during childhood are especially deep-seated in your subconscious mind. However, you can change that by being more aware and conscious. You can reprogram your mind and give it another script that fits with who you are and your purpose. You won’t think, “I can’t,” but instead, think, “I can.” You will do what you want and achieve all that you want. 

To learn more about goal setting and resilience, you may order my book. Now available on Amazon.

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