I needed an energy boost this afternoon, so I strapped on my roller blades for an exercise break. As a competitive person, I typically race against the clock, and today was no exception.
I was riding along at a good clip when the path took me through the woods. The path was littered with sticks, and I had to slow down to avoid tripping. I immediately thought, “If those sticks weren’t there, I’d have a better time.”
About a mile after coming out of the woods, there was a section of the path full of buds that had fallen from overhanging trees. They made the path very slippery forcing me to slow down. Again, I found myself thinking, “If it wasn’t for those buds, I’d have a better time.”
A half mile later I was back up to speed and focusing on making up for lost time. Before I knew it, I was struggling against a very strong wind as I rode along an open field. I pushed against the wind well aware of the impact on my time.
There is no doubt that these three obstacles slowed me down. Whether it’s rollerblading, a sales goal, or a product launch, there will always be obstacles that threaten results. If you are unaware of them, they can quickly become excuses that derail success.
Awareness is key to preventing automatic thoughts from becoming excuses. Tune in and listen to your thoughts when faced with an obstacle. Turn any potential negativity around by channeling your energy into finding the best way around it and then making up for lost ground.
Would you like to learn how to increase awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and behavior that impact your decisions, relationships, and ultimately your success? Please join us for an in-depth, focused workshop on Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence. See our Public Workshops page for dates.
