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6 Ways You Are Your Own Worst Enemy – A Must Read Self-Improvement Blog

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There is an old African Proverb that goes… "A man's greatest battles are the ones he fights within himself." True to that, the battles that take place in between your two ears are so intense yet so inconspicuous that they can derail you from achieving your level best in life without you even knowing it.

Positive inner battles act as a catalyst to propel you to the next level; but negative battles on the other hand are the monkey wrench that can grind your prosperity to a halt.
 
Along those lines, here are some 6 ways that people like YOU and me end up becoming our own worst enemies. Left unchecked, these behaviors can prevent you from achieving your full potential.
 
1.Behaving like an entitled kid
 
spilt kid
Pic By: Serena Crawford

 
A very wrong mindset with most people especially here in Africa is we think and feel like we are entitled to special treatment. Entitled to be helped by foreign investors (because they colonized our forefathers). Entitled to be employed (because we have a degree). And entitled to cheap loans from the government even without producing collateral (because we’ve been told entrepreneurship is the only way out of poverty). But these are misconceptions that are likely to hold us back forever.
 
We need to grow up and realize the world does not revolve around us. We are no longer entitled to whining incessantly when we don’t get what you want. Let us roll up our sleeves and work hard like everyone else.
 
2.You fail to appreciate small things
 
We don’t have much time on earth, but that’s no excuse to rush through life and only focus on the big things that seem to matter. You want to launch a product that will change the world, build a bigger company, buy a better car, horse, house or cat? That’s all fine. But in the name of pursuing all that greatness, don’t forget to pause a little to appreciate the smaller things around you.
 
When you begin to appreciate every little thing and by recognizing the small people who make it all happen on a daily basis, you’ll undoubtedly feel enriched. Appreciating the good things that happen to you on a small scale builds your confidence and optimism. Moreover, it makes you understand the true value of your life so you are motivated and ready to go the extra mile.
 
3.You take too much for granted
 
This is by far the most pervasive quality of your inner enemy. Taking things for granted means you never take time to truly appreciate your circumstances. You forget that you’re enjoying privileges such as free access to internet,  free articles from Kuza Biashara, a roof over your head and some time to spare. You forget there are kids somewhere in Syria whose only wish is freedom from outright tyranny and war-like conditions. You forget that you have a family that appreciates you for who you are.
 
When you take things for granted, you don’t squeeze much out of life. You mind naturally stops focusing on the opportunities that exist around you and instead zooms on the misgivings of life. So stop taking things for granted and similar to point number 2, learn to appreciate the little things in life.
 
4.Letting jealousy govern your decisions
 
jealousy
Pic By: Kelvin Karanja
Jealousy eats you up from inside and pushes you into committing all manner of self-destructive actions. Instead of focusing on what you can control i.e. your life, your goals, you end up wasting your precious time meddling in what others are doing, what they own and how much they earn. You live your entire life trying to be someone else. You make decisions to impress or to show off to your friends.
 
Want to prosper? Don’t give jealousy a place in your heart. Focus on your own path and do the best you can with whatever you have.
 
5.Obsession with examining personal failures
 
Your negative worry about your personal failures acts as a silent force of opposition to your good thoughts, effectively pulling in negativity that clogs up your mind – a space that could be better utilized if filled with thoughts of abundance and optimism.
 
Give the power of your thinking to the positive influences in your life, and they will keep getting stronger and more influential every day.
 
6.You over-analyze things
 
You are told to start business XYZ, you think it’s a good thing, then your over-think and over-complicate the matter and do a complete 180. You never start your marathon race, so you remain stuck at the starting line. And you still expect to emerge victorious?
 
You over-think absolutely everything. You go round in circles, contemplating solutions that aren’t necessary relying on assumptions that (most of the time) are ultimately false.
 
While it is good to ponder carefully upon certain matters, over-thinking them can prove detrimental. Break your challenges down and don’t put too much emphasis on idealizing all the potential implications of every decision.
 
Final Word…

Everyone is an enemy of their success in one way or another. The key is to identify where this enemy resides so you can click DELETE. Your thoughts…



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