5 Challenges that Could Kill Your Chances of Making Your Dreams Come True

Don't let challenges and/or obstacles stand between where you are now and your dream. Here's the thing -- you'll never be without challenges - they're a fact of life. Therefore, get to know the different type of challenges and what you can do about them. The following list will help.

There are two types of challenges; external challenges and internal challenges. This week we'll discuss external challenges.

External challenges are the outside things that appear to block our progress. Also, external challenges take some type of form. They include:

1. Unexpected blips. These include things like your printer breaking right when you need to print out an important document for a client. Or, you need to return an important call and discover your cell phone battery is dead.

Unexpected blips are the things that drive us crazy for the moment but we eventually and quickly move past them. Stuff happens. The best way to prevent unexpected blips is to take a proactive approach to life. Be sure the machines and electronics in your life are in good working order. Anticipate possible breakdowns before they happen. Do your best and for the things you can't predict just know "this to shall pass".

2. People standing in your way. A little more serious than unexpected blips, people standing in your way are the people in your life you have to "sell" your next move to. These could include your parents, partner and even kids and friends.

You know there's a person standing in your way when you think to yourself, "What will my mother think!" Now, your mother can't literally stop you from moving forward but in your MIND she can. The best and fastest way to get around the people standing in your way is to be upfront and honest about your plans. No sugar coating. Own your decisions and the people in your life will come around in their own time.

Whatever you do, don't let the fear of what someone else might say or think stop you from living the life you most want. You'll wind up resenting them and feeling like a victim.

3. Major life changes. Major life changes are the events we have absolutely no control over. A loved one dying. A terrible accident or act of Mother Nature. When the big stuff in life happens you can't prevent it but you can manage how you react to it. At first this may seem impossible but the truth is the only thing you can ever control is your response to what has happened to you.

Major life changes may slow or stop our progress for a short or long time. Eventually it will be time to get back on track. Until then, be patient and do what you need to do to get through the tough times. In time, you'll be able to focus on moving forward again.

Next week we'll discuss the internal challenges that keep us from getting what we want. You don't want to miss this one! Unlike external challenges, internal challenges are with us 24/7 and if you don't understand them can STOP you faster than dead cell phone batteries, mom, and natural disasters - combined!

5 Challenges that Could Kill Your Chances of Making Your Dreams Come True - Part 2

Last week we started talking about the different types of external challenges we experience and how they hold us back. This week we're going to keep talking about the challenges and obstacles that slow our progress and delve into the world of our internal challenges.

Unlike external challenges, internal challenges are with us 24/7 and if you don't understand them can STOP you faster than dead cell phone batteries, mom, and natural disasters - combined!

Internal challenges are our thoughts, beliefs and emotions that block our progress. They include:

4. The LENS through which you view the world. Are you someone who sees the glass half full or half empty? Do you tend to see possibilities first, or obstacles?

We're all naturally wired to see life through a particular lens that's made up of our personality, upbringing and past experiences. For example, if you grew up in a family with self-employed parents it's not too far of stretch to imagine yourself self-employed. On the other hand, if you grew up with parents that worked for someone else, it might be hard to imagine yourself doing anything different.

How you view the world is how you view your possibilities. Sometimes the lens you look through is empowering and other times it may limit your possibilities.

To know whether or not the lens you're looking through is serving your highest good ask yourself, "Is this what I really want?"

5. FEAR. What are you afraid of? We're all afraid of something. Failure. Loneliness. Not being liked or accepted for who we really are. Loss. Betrayal. Illness. This list goes on...

I doubt there is anyone that is free of fear. Some just learn how to put it on the back burner and move forward in spite of their fear. For others, fear stops them dead in their tracks where they remain stuck.

Fear manifests itself in many ways; lack of self-confidence, procrastination, lack of focus, loneliness, overwhelm, feeling needy. Fear can also show up as anger, sadness, jealousy, etc.

Fear is necessary in our life because it will keep us safe. But sometimes fear will keep us too safe, not allowing us to do the very things we need to do to create the life we most want.

Often times fear is the shadow side of our gifts. For example, if one of your core passions is leadership, before you can live your life as a leader you may need to overcome self-esteem issues.

Just on the flip side of your gifts - the gifts that will help you make your dreams come true - live your challenges.

The first thing you can do not to let your internal challenges get the best of you is to become aware of what they are. The Passion Portal Assessment Tool will help you do that by putting into words your top five core passions and the gifts and challenges associated with each core passion.

Self-knowledge is empowering. Becoming aware of and putting into words your challenges will empower you to make good choices for your life in spite of your external and internal challenges.

In the long run your challenges, once you overcome them, will give you strength. You'll gain courage and confidence every time you do something you are afraid to do. With every challenge you overcome you will strengthen your sense of self. You'll begin identifying yourself as someone who acts in spite of the challenges and obstacles in their way. You will live a life you'll be proud of.

Copyright (c) 2007 Cari Vollmer

Cari Vollmer, founder of LifeOnTrack.com and creator of InspireYourSuccess.com, simplifies personal growth by showing you step-by-step how to create and live a life that works well and feels great! To sign up for her FREE how to articles and no-charge 5-Day Feel Great Now E-Course visit http://www.LifeOnTrack.com

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