How to get past “I can’t get past it”

September 27, 2011 by Joshua
in Awareness, Blog, Tips

Some advice applies to everyone. I bet the following will help you or will remind you of something that helped you once. Even after you’ve heard it, reminders help, especially when stressed or frustrated.

For example, a client wrote me about the exercises he’s practicing. After describing his progress on the work, he described frustration in one area. I considered this frustration the main issue — his motivation.

Then when I’m thinking about trying again I think “What’s the point. I won’t get past the start anyway“, and then I don’t want to work on it anymore. It has happened to me 5 times this month already and I can’t get past it.

What do I do?

When someone puts in the time, does the exercises, and makes progress but still feels frustrated, often their beliefs are demotivating them. I responded by focusing on the belief I saw at the root.

…and I can’t get past it.

Everyone who developed skills in your area went through the same stuff and could have said the same things, myself for sure. One main difference between people who succeed and people who don’t is being able to replace beliefs like “… and I can’t get past it” with “… and that’s the stage where I am, but others have gotten past it so I will too” or something like that.

If you believed you couldn’t get past it you wouldn’t be wasting your time here. You can get past it. I’m not trying to encourage you. I’m just stating what I believe to be true: you can get past it. After you practice enough you’ll be so familiar with the situation you’ll be comfortable doing what you want, no longer at a loss for things to say or do.

Be like Michael Jordan when he got cut from the high school basketball team or Thomas Edison when he was on the first 9,000 or so tests before he said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

The advice seemed to resonate. I hope it helps you sometime.

It definitely gave me motivation to go back out there and continue. It was exactly advice like that I was hoping for! I wasn’t even aware of some of the things you pointed out. Like the “I can’t get past it“.. Of course I can’t get past it when I think like that! I just have difficulties noticing these limiting beliefs for myself sometimes.

Thanks

Read my weekly newsletter

On initiative, leadership, the environment, and burpees

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

1 response to “How to get past “I can’t get past it”

Leave a Reply

Sign up for my weekly newsletter