What steps can we take to overcome mental traps?

If we recall Tim Gallwey’s message that “SUCCESS is the difference between POTENTIAL and OBSTACLES,” it would be wise to periodically reassess our MENTAL TRAPS, as they can indeed become OBSTACLES to our personal and professional GROWTH.

Sometimes we are AWARE of them, and sometimes not, right?

The question that follows is: WHAT WILL WE DO ABOUT THEM?

The first step is to RECOGNIZE them, and then WISELY MANAGE OURSELVES.

I will share with you some of the most COMMON mental traps I have encountered in recent years, along with RECOMMENDATIONS on how to manage them:

“Mental victory precedes every other victory!” – Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović

Measure your growth by tracking YOURSELF daily rather than comparing yourself to others. Assess your STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES.

Do not lose sight of your past SUCCESSES—both big and small.

Maintain a POSITIVE ATTITUDE and remember that every THOUGHT influences your BEHAVIOR and the PERFORMANCE you achieve.

Give your best and strive to be the best version of yourself.

“You either create or allow everything that happens to you.” – Jack Welch

Depending on your ATTITUDE, your day will be good and successful—or not.

You have a significant IMPACT on how your day unfolds.

You can choose a PROACTIVE approach and manage your CIRCUMSTANCES and CHALLENGES, or you can take a passive role in your own life, constantly blaming others for a bad day, failure, or lack of growth opportunities.

“Sooner or later, those who think they can will win!” – Richard Bach

First, gather the FACTS.

Determine whether the EVIDENCE supports your conclusion.

Assess what is within your CONTROL in the given situation and what is not.

Define the RESOURCES you need and identify the next STEPS.

Focus on WHAT YOU CAN DO rather than what you cannot.

“Your attitude colors every aspect of your life. It is like a paintbrush of the mind.” – John Maxwell

Replace the words “must” and “have to” with “I WANT TO.” This gives you a sense of freedom when DECIDING what you truly wish to do.

It also MOTIVATES you to take action.

“THE WORLD as we have created it is a PROCESS of our thinking. It cannot be changed without CHANGING the way we THINK.” – Albert Einstein

Avoid generalizations and words like always, never, everyone, and no one. Why?

Avoid black-and-white judgments, pay attention to nuances, and CONSIDER the POSSIBILITIES that lie in between. You will soon realize that no two situations are entirely identical—there are always DIFFERENCES (in people, circumstances, etc.). Moreover, YOU can be the SOURCE of those differences, shifting and shaping situations in new ways.

“We either make ourselves MISERABLE or make ourselves STRONGER. The amount of effort is the same.” – Carlos Castaneda

It is one thing to ASSESS potential obstacles when implementing an idea, solving a problem, or making a decision with objectivity and caution.

It is entirely different to WORRY excessively in advance WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION.

Brian Tracy’s research shows that 80% of our worries never actually come true.

“You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.” – Jim Rohn

We are emotional beings, aren’t we?

And we cannot prevent emotions from arising.

But what can we do?

We can MANAGE our REACTIONS by understanding the real REASON behind a specific emotion and handling it appropriately.

The cards are not dealt in advance… A great deal is in your hands!