Spotting what’s in your way before it stops you
In this chapter, you will:
- Identify the common obstacles, triggers and situations that make change harder for you.
- Explore patterns in your daily life that pull you off track.
- Write down the specific barriers that tend to show up for you most often.
By the end of this chapter, you will:
- Be more prepared for setbacks, instead of being blindsided by them.
- Know which barriers to expect and have ideas for how to handle them.
- Feel more confident about moving forward, because you’re planning with real life in mind, not a perfect world.
What Are Barriers and Why Do They Matter?
Barriers are the things that get in the way of making the changes you want. They can be physical, emotional, social or practical. Sometimes they’re obvious, like an injury or lack of time. Other times, they’re hidden in habits, beliefs, or daily routines.
We all face barriers. The problem isn’t having them, it’s not spotting them.
When you understand what is getting in your way, you can stop blaming yourself and start using your energy more effectively. Instead of wasting effort on the wrong things, you can focus on where change is actually possible. That means better results, with less frustration.
Barriers in your past
Here are some common barriers that can get in the way of making change. Tick any barriers you’ve personally faced when trying to make a change recently. You’re not alone. Most people will tick more than one.
| Low self-belief (doubting you can stick with it) | |
| Low self confidence or feeling self-conscious | |
| Low motivation or willpower | |
| Temptation from people and things around you | |
| Other things were more important | |
| Feeling overwhelmed or stuck because it is “too much” | |
| Lack of knowledge (not sure what to do or how to start) | |
| Financial cost | |
| Don’t have resources or equipment | |
| Not enough time | |
| Something else (write here what barrier has stopped you in the past) |
Now you have an idea of what has stopped you in the past, take your time to get our your notebook and answer the following questions:
- Which 1 or 2 Barriers from above have hit you hardest in the past?
- Describe an example when those barriers got in your way?
What happened, and how did it affect your progress? - Looking back, is there anything you could have done differently that might have helped?
What would you try next time in a similar situation?
Wrapping Up
By taking time to honestly name the barriers in your way, you’ve done something most people never do. You’ve stepped out of blind frustration and into real awareness.
When you know what’s been stopping you, you can stop blaming yourself and start making smarter plans. You can prepare for challenges, work around them, and stop repeating the same stuck cycles.
If you’d like help working through your barriers or building strategies to beat them, my In-Depth Coaching service is here to support you.
Find out more or get started by clicking here.
What’s one small action you can take now that you understand your barriers better? Jot it down in your notebook.