You are not broken
It’s also important to note that you are not broken. You don’t need to be fixed.
You are whole, complete, and perfect as a human being just as you are right now. The things you think of as “issues” in your life are actually opportunities for growth, not problems that need fixing.
If you keep peeling layer after layer, there is no end to problems in life; issues and problems can be solved, but once you solve them, you may discover new problems or issues that you were unaware of before. This is a never ending loop that makes life challenging and exciting.
Most people don’t realize this fact until they are older because they have become accustomed to focusing on the problem rather than accepting this loop like normal part of life of every one of us. Big or small, problems or issues are always present and they are here to be embraced not avoided.
Stop fixing your problems, start chasing your vision
When you focus on your problems, you're only reinforcing the idea that they exist. You've given them power and created a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more you think about the obstacles in your way, the worse it seems for yourself.
Your vision is what gives you purpose and direction. It's what keeps you from getting distracted by all of the other things that could be holding back your success.
When you stop focusing on your problems and start chasing your vision instead, everything changes for you: you feel better about yourself because you know where you're going; others around you will respect you more because they see how committed to our goals you are; and most importantly, success will come quicker than ever before!
Create a detailed and powerful vision that is exciting and motivating to you
Imagine who you want to be: What would you look like? Sound like? Feel like? What would your values be as this new version of yourself? How would you behave in different situations? What would you be doing with your time? Imagine how it feels when people praise or admire you, being this new, exciting you. Be ambitious, but stay realistic! Visualize yourself as this new version as often as possible, even daily.
Now, imagine how your life would be like if you were NOW your best self.
- You will achieve more.
- You will be happier and more successful.
- People will love you and want to hang out with you because they feel good in your presence
Imagine that! That’s what I want for my clients—to give them the tools to make their lives better so that every day can become a little bit easier and happier for them as well as those around them.
Vision comes first, obstacles second
You’re going to have obstacles, but don’t let them get in the way of your vision. If you focus solely on fixing problems, then you won’t be able to see the opportunities that are right in front of you. Imagine your future self first, then focus on fixing the obstacles that are in the way of that vision.
Some of us think that to accomplish our goals, we need to fix ourselves first. We think that something is wrong with us and we need to change it before we can be happy or successful.
There's a lot of talk about self-esteem and confidence these days, but the problem with focusing on fixing yourself is that there isn't anything wrong with you. The past cannot be changed; however, the future can be shaped by what happens today and tomorrow—and those experiences are determined by where your focus is when they happen.
Instead of focusing on problems alone (as in "I'm going to lose weight"), try shifting your attention from the outcome ("I want to lose 20 pounds") toward who you'd like to become: “I am a leaner version of myself."
When you focus on your goals, it's easy to get motivated. You'll start thinking about how great it would be if your goal came true and what rewards you'd get for achieving it. Then set about creating real steps toward becoming this person by working with a personal trainer or taking up running at night after work.
Final words
I hope this post has given you a good idea of why focusing on problems is the worst way to achieve your goals. I know it's not always easy to change our habits, but if you find yourself feeling stuck or frustrated with your progress towards achieving a goal then maybe it's time for a change!
