Counterproductive Attitudes That Limit Success

How people measure success varies, and usually it means matching up against some form of standard. One thing is common amongst all kinds of success, and that is the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment. People naturally desire to be successful in a range of things including: education, career, relationships, marriage, parenting, health and the list continues. Success requires positive and progressive attitudes, and therefore the enemies of success are rooted in counterproductive attitudes.

"Been there, done that!"

It's a common saying, but on a closer more thoughtful analysis of it, one may find that it can be an obstacle for further success. Due to past successes and experiences, a person may feel as if they have arrived and thus reached their destination. Yet, there is always more to learn! A person's experiences are not the only there are. Avoiding this attitude makes it easier to learn something more, which is necessary for continued success.

A wise old man who has lived a full life will learn something entirely new from a little child.

Being afraid to take a risk is natural, because risk means that there is something that a person can possibly lose or fail in. The fear of failure, if a person allows it causes mediocrity. Mediocrity is not attractive and is related to being hardly progressive. It is a fact that successful people in various aspects of life know what failing means. The key point is that failing certainly doesn't mean that one is a failure. The attitude is what makes the difference.  Failing can actually be helpful to a person as he/she can learn to do better, so that on the next attempt the risk of failing decreases. This approach is successful in itself.

The 'lone wolf mentality' is a limiting factor to success. Even wolves depend on each other within their pack for survival. There are others who know things and have experiences that a person may need to get to the next level. It is good for a person to take initiative and do things on his/her own, but having the belief that no one else matters on the journey of success is a pathway to disaster.

It may seem smart to hide what one knows  so as to feel a sense of dominance. In particular cases, it wouldn't be wise to share information freely with anyone, but the attitude of selfishness is the issue at hand. For a person to experience progress, means that someone else gave some kind of helping hand. Others will be more likely to help a person continue in success if that person is generous with their own resources.

So many variables can contribute to a person believing this about himself/herself, but it is a huge stumbling block to making progress and experiencing success. Affirmation; being around positive people; reading, watching and listening to motivating things are ways to overcome this toxic belief. The determination must be there to overcome this self-prophetic lie, because the reality is that people are often much more capable than they believe.

To evade these mental obstacles, one has to consciously make a decision to think contrary to them. The following affirmation sums up the positive mindset to counteract the limiting attitudes highlighted:

"I am capable of doing whatever I conceive, and even though I maybe afraid to fail I will not allow myself to controlled by it. As I learn from my mistakes, I will grow and help people along the way as I receive help from them as well. As successful as I may be, I will keep an open mind to learn from others."