Mental blocks hold many people back in life. They restrain you from reaching the life you always wanted.
Luckily, we all possess something so powerful that its creations are visible from space. In fact, it’s the most impactful strategic entity in the known universe—the human brain.
Nothing can even come close to the extraordinary abilities of our minds. We’ve changed our entire planet and have extended into space. Every mind-blowing invention and awe-inspiring creation came from our thoughts.
What are mental blocks?
A mental block is a psychological barrier that prevents people from finishing critical tasks or achieving success. They’re the roadblocks people subconsciously put in their way.
Why would we create imaginary blockades to imprison us and inhibit our potential? Because the subconscious wants you to stay in your comfort zone. However, you aren’t trapped there if you break through the following obstacles.
Mental blocks and how you can defeat them:
1. Overcomplicating everything
One of the biggest reasons people don’t do something is because they overthink everything. They think they need to have a huge budget and a complex plan to succeed. As a result, they make the task more difficult than it should be. Then they get overwhelmed by everything and never take action.
The best way to overcome this is to start with the simplest possible solution. If you need to, you can break that solution down into small steps beforehand.
2. Perfectionism
We are constantly told that in order to be successful, we need to do everything a certain way. We need to have the perfect resume, the perfect business plan, and the perfect marketing strategy. But, nothing is ever going to be perfect, so just do your best and don’t worry about perfection.
3. Avoiding difficult emotions
Painful emotions aren’t fun but avoiding them won’t make them disappear. In fact, they’ll continue to grow more powerful in the background of your mind.
Furthermore, they’ll keep showing up at the worst times and ruin situations.
So, you must process these emotions and defeat them.
Get in a calm mental state and think about what thoughts keep bothering you. Name each one and accept that it’s a simple feeling that you can control. Then release it so you can focus.
4. Self-doubt
Self-doubt can creep up on us when we least expect it, which can be crippling. When you start doubting yourself, it’s hard to stay motivated. So, think of some encouraging words before you do anything that usually intimidates you.
5. Overworking
Working too much makes your brain feel like mush after a while. You might think taking some time to rest would be a waste, but it will actually boost your productivity.
Working for long periods of time without a break leads to burnout.
Get up and move around or take a few minutes to rest your mind every once in a while. This will help you stay fresh and focused. So make sure you schedule some break time!
6. Worrying too much
Excessive worrying clouds your judgment and decreases performance. At the least, it’ll slow you down and make every task more time-consuming. You might avoid doing things if it’s going to take all day to finish. Therefore, avoid worrying about the end result and just focus on what you can do today.
7. Distractions
These days there are so many devices striving for our attention and they can all throw us off course with ease. But don’t engage in this all too common form of self-sabotage.
It’s difficult to focus on a task when you’re constantly being pulled away by email, social media, and phone calls. If you need to do something important make sure you can be mentally present for it. Turn off your electronics and put away anything that might distract you beforehand.
8. Ignoring your intuition
“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.”
— Alan Alda
When your intuition tells you to do something, don’t ignore it.
The next time you think about a reoccurring problem and how you could solve it, don’t shrug it off. Instead, do something about it now.
Name the problem, explore several solutions, choose the best one, and take action today.
9. Analysis paralysis
Analysis paralysis is the state of over-analyzing something to the point where you get so overwhelmed you freeze. Some people think that analyzing insignificant details for hours is productive.
But in reality, after all that time, you’ve accomplished nothing!
If you find yourself stuck in analysis paralysis, the first thing you need to do is take a step back and breathe. Once you’ve calmed down, try to figure out what’s causing your anxiety.
10. Procrastination
“You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.”
— Jack London
Procrastination is a common problem that can have negative consequences on our lives. It can lead to missed deadlines, poor performance, and even job loss.
Figure out why you’re procrastinating. There may be a specific reason why you’re putting off certain tasks. Maybe you’re afraid of failure or worry that the job is too difficult. Once you identify the reason, you can find ways to solve it.
Also, eliminate distractions that lead you straight to Procrastination Town.
In addition, it can be helpful if you create a timeline for completing tasks. This will keep you on track and productive.
In short, doing anything with a head full of mental blocks is near impossible. So, don’t let mental blocks hold you back when you can set yourself free. Face them and turn them into opportunities. Believe that you can do what you’re trying to do and get started today!
What was the most significant mental block you’ve overcome? Comment below.
