5 Distractions That Take You Away From Where You Want To Be

We all have visions, dreams, and aspirations. Each coming year we list down our resolutions. Yet, at the end of the year when we tally everything we have achieved, we mostly find out we are nowhere close to where we thought we would be. We are usually leagues behind where we should be. This is very disappointing, and yet most people just learn to live with that disappointment. They get used to being less than what they really should be. If you are a person of great vision, however, you should always fight the habit of becoming used to mediocrity. As the poet said, you should not go gentle into that good night. Why then do we usually find ourselves miles away from where we want to be. Let us check out some of the five key distractions that slow us down and deviate us from the path that we had envisioned.

1) Procrastination

As the old-time adage goes, "procrastination is the thief of time." Most people keep lingering around, hesitant to take that first step towards the things we should be doing. It seems mostly the times are not always right enough for them to start. Deadlines and appointments keep being pushed further and further into an unforeseeable future. And with time we find ourselves still stuck in that same place as the previous years. We do not grow and we do not even get to walk the path that we wanted. Remember, no one is going to come and ring a bell for you to show that the time is right now. You need to be a pragmatic person and start.

2) Being too comfortable and settling

Change is indeed hard. We usually feel comfortable staying in our own niche, our own safe zone. Most people choose to just stay where they are because they have grown too comfortable, they are afraid of change and all the new challenges it might bring. So usually, they settle for something less than what they want. They feign contentment and live a stagnant life. Great visionaries however are flexible and can embrace change. They never settle for less and they walk boldly down that mile they have envisioned.

3) Being disorganized

It is hard to carry out a project or a plan when you are disorganized. You have to avoid clutter mentally and around your workspace. Some level of organization is required. This is where vision boards usually play a major role. They help you organize your thoughts and find out how you can manage to carry out a project. Fix proper objectives so that you won't find yourself overwhelmed by unnecessary things. Prioritize things so that you will not spend time and effort on inconsequential things. This will help put your house in order and give you some level of organization.

4) Excuses and low self-esteem

It is easy to give excuses in life. When we adopt of lax attitude, we often find ourselves giving excuses to whoever can listen, explaining ourselves even when we are not asked. Low self-esteem also makes us doubt ourselves, constantly seeking the approval of others. Next time you find yourself trying to explain why you did not get to do what you had set out to do, stop yourself. Let your actions and speak for themselves. As Sartre said, "dreams, expectations, and hopes only serve to define a man as a broken dream, aborted hopes, and futile expectations." So be a person of action. Do not voice out excuses or explanations. Be confident enough to just walk the walk.

5) Negativity and fear of failure

It is hard to start on something when we are drowning in negative thoughts and when we are afraid. Some people never get to go anywhere because they are not daring enough to face the tasks. They cower when the call comes for them to do something great and thus they get trapped in the same frame for the rest of their lives. In the end, due to the negativity and all the time they lose, they become overwhelmed with sadness, self-loathing, and more negativity. It is pretty much a vicious cycle. When stuck in this loop, you will find out that you will never get where you want to be. Negativity and fear rob you of that sense of adventure, they make you lethargic and hopeless that you will not even dare to try. It pays to be optimistic about your vision.

We need to be realistic and get ourselves into the action. To be where you want to be requires a lot of strength, passion, and patience. Never back down when the going gets rough and do not give in to all those negative thoughts. Take the reins and be in charge. Walk towards the person you want to become.

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