We all like to think that we are in control of our destiny – if we just work hard enough and have clear goals, then we will fulfill our dreams. But maybe things aren’t going as smoothly as you had hoped.
In fact, there might be times where you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall. Perhaps everything you’re doing to try to be more successful just isn’t working. So you might be scratching your head thinking, “What am I doing wrong?”
Don’t worry. You’re probably not doing anything wrong. You just need to dig deeper. We all have blocks to success that aren’t obvious at all. Here are five ways you can uncover and remove these hidden blocks to success.
Ways to Uncover and Remove Your Hidden Blocks to Success
1. Discover Your Subconscious Programming About Money
Let’s start with a little exercise. I want you to give your immediate responses to these words or phrases. Don’t even think about them. Just trust the very first thing that comes to mind. I’ll tell you why after you complete the exercise:
- Rich people
- Money
- Success
- Financial freedom
How did you answer? Did you say “Rich people … are snobs.” Or “Money … doesn’t grow on trees.” If you did, that should tell you that you have negative subconscious beliefs that could be holding you back.
You might have even said,“Rich people … are lucky.” While that might sound like a positive statement, it might not be. If you don’t generally think of yourself as someone who has a lot of luck, then your subconscious mind will hold yourself back from becoming rich.
Related: How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs
2. Reflect on What Your Parents Told You
Maybe you were an average student and you heard, “You’re never going to be successful if you keep going with these kind of grades!” Or “You are so lazy! You’ll never amount to anything in life if you don’t get up and do something.”
What your parents told you about yourself and your ability to be successful has programmed your conscious and subconscious mind.
Also, if you heard statements like “You have to save for a rainy day,” or “What do you think I’m made of…money?” then your parents indirectly told you that money is scarce and hard to come by.
So if they believed that, chances are, you do too. Even if you don’t consciously know it.
Related: How to Have a Positive Money Mindset
3. Monitor Your Self-Talk, Thoughts, & Emotions
How do you feel when you’re paying bills? Do you have a sinking feeling about all the money that is going out? Or do you feel thankful that you even have money to pay bills? When you go to the store, do you say, “I can’t afford that” or “If only I could win the lottery …”
How you talk to yourself about money – and yourself – leads to thoughts and feelings that create your reality. Monitor the thoughts that go through your head and then stop yourself every time you catch yourself being negative.
Related: How to Stop Negative Self-Talk
4. Employ Affirmations and Visualization
Following from #3, once you realize the negative thoughts that go through your head, use affirmations and visualization to change it.
Write out positive statements about money and success and repeat them over and over. Put them on poster boards around your house and look at them often. Also, close your eyes and visualize your goals. See yourself in your perfect career or a happy relationship. Feel it. See it. Act as if it is real.
The subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between fantasy and reality. So the more you visualize it, the more you will trick it into thinking it is reality.
Related: How to Achieve Your Goals with the Law of Attraction
5. Reprogram Your Subconscious Mind With Hypnosis
Hypnosis is nothing creepy or strange. It is simply relaxing your brain waves so you are more open to suggestions and re-programming. So if you have discovered that your parents taught you that “money is the root of all evil,” well then you better do some re-programming ASAP.
There are many places on the internet that you can find mp3 hypnosis tapes that can be downloaded immediately. The more you use hypnosis, the more you will erase all the negative programming that you, your parents, and society have instilled into your subconscious. Trust me, it works.
Related: How Hypnosis Works
The Takeaway
I hope that if you’ve gotten nothing else from this article, you have at least come to the realization that despite all your efforts to reach your goals, there might be something hidden that is holding you back.
This might be something you’ve never thought of before, so it’s time to use this newfound awareness and take some steps forward. Putting some effort into digging deeper and overcoming your negative subconscious programming will put you on the fast track to success!
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Carol Morgan has a Ph.D. in communication and is a professor at Wright State University. She is also a motivational expert on the TV show ‘Living Dayton,’ the co-host of a popular radio show, video expert for eHow.com, frequent keynote speaker, and the author of several books.
Photo by seeveeaar
Originally posted on 1/21/2014. Updated on 11/7/2020.