More and more, evidence points to the power of mindset as a source of our failures and our successes. What differentiates those who are successful from those who aren’t is often nothing more than mindset.
If you’re not where you want to be, not achieving what you know you’re capable of, maybe it’s time to take a look at your own mindset.
Here are nine of the most mindsets that derail success:
1. Constant self-doubt and low self-esteem. Few things are more damaging than self-doubt and low self-esteem. Doubt and fear exist in each of us; we all fear failure. But it’s listening to the negative voices inside your head that will convince you that you not to act, not to take a risk. They will tell you you’re not ready, that you aren’t good enough. Prove them wrong with determined persistent action.
2. Continuous negativity: You cannot have a positive successful life if you allow negative thinking. A negative thinker sees the down side to everything. we live our thoughts. Our thoughts create action, and every time you think a negative thought you are taking a step away from your success. We each have thousands of thoughts a day, so don’t waste them on negativity.
3. Endless dissatisfaction: If you’re constantly thinking in terms of what you do and don’t have, it’s a short leap to unhappiness with who you are. To be successful, you need to find happiness from within–that happens when you let go and celebrate everything that is. Happiness or unhappiness is a conscious choice; one will help you succeed while the other lead you away.
4. Troubled relationships. True success means being surrounded by those you care about and connected with those you love. If you’re experiencing consistent breakdowns with those you care about, no success is going to ever be meaningful. Family, personal, and business relationships are the most basic form of teamwork, and they’re crucial to any kind of meaningful success.
5. Placing blame. When you blame others for the outcomes you experience, you fail to take responsibility for your own life and success. You will never get unstuck by blaming outside forces for the things you need to fix within yourself.
6. Relentless comparison to others. it’s easy to compare where you are to where someone else is–and that can make you frustrated. Success is personal, and your success should never be measured against what someone else is doing or has done, but only against the goals you have set and your actions to reach them.
7. Persistent overthinking. If you genuinely want to succeed, stop overthinking everything. Let go of what you cannot control and concentrate on what you can. Overthinking ends up twisting up everything inside you and around you. It leads to worry and distress and makes everything ten times worse than it actually is. Don’t create problems that aren’t even there in the first place.
8. Expectation-induced stress. The fastest way to disappointment is to hold expectations and presumptions about how things outside your control should occur. It’s only when you let go of your expectations you are free to enjoy things for what they are instead of what you think they should be. If you seek success, have low expectations and high determination.
9. Holding on to the past. If you want to move forward, you have to let go of the past. The sooner you realize that the past is … well, past, the sooner you will be able to move on toward your success. Living in the past destroys the future.
Identify and eliminate these mindsets, and start moving yourself toward success.
N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
THE LEADERSHIP GAP
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.