Never Give Up, Never Quit!

Introduction

Life always seems to present us with innumerable challenges and problems on a daily basis. It throws left hooks when we were expecting right hooks. It gives us Apples when were were desiring Oranges. It even presents us with seemingly awful surprises that we weren’t expecting, and it bloats us with unresourceful emotions that tend to tie us down to a life of mediocrity and unhappiness. However, it is not so much what happens to us that actually makes a difference, it is rather what we do with what happens to us that determines where we will end up, what we will have, and how we will be transformed by our experiences. The Never Give Up, Never Quit IQ Matrix delves into the details of the problems and obstacles that we face on a daily basis, providing us with a means to get through those “so called” low moments of our lives when everything seems to be falling on top of our heads

The Never Give Up, Never Quit IQ Matrix will first help you to identify the different faces of the obstacles, problems and challenges that you may face on a daily basis. Secondly, we will take a look at the reasons behind these obstacles and what they really mean to your life and future endeavors. Thirdly, we will touch on the aspect of developing a Mindset Grounded in Determination that will help you push through any challenges that life presents you with. And finally, we will discuss how to create unstoppable momentum that will guide you towards the attainment of your most passionate goals and objectives

Don’t Quit… Here Come the Obstacles

It is very easy to strive towards the attainment of our goals and objectives when the oceans are calm and nothing appears to be standing in our way. However, if we are not mentally prepared – the moment something begins to stir the waters and rock the boat from side-to-side – we begin to panic and struggle with our circumstances in unproductive and unresourceful ways. We see these problems and challenges as larger than life and way beyond our capabilities and means. The events may very well end up overwhelming us and causing great heartache and hardship. As a result we may end up quitting and throwing in the towel of defeat – all because our resolve wasn’t strong enough to handle the burdens associated with our journey towards the attainment of our objectives.

Throughout this section of the IQ Matrix, we will take a look at, and identify, the possible obstacles that may stand in our way as we progress along the path towards fulfilling our dreams. These obstacles essentially come in 4 distinct forms; from within ourselves, extending from our decisions and actions, directed from other people, and originating within circumstance. Let’s now take a closer look at each of these in more detail

Obstacles Within Ourselves

Probably the toughest and most challenging obstacles that we face come from within ourselves. These obstacles are extremely challenging to overcome because in many instances we are simply blind to their existence. The reality of the matter is that these obstacles blind us from perceiving reality in a resourceful and unbiased manner. Your first objective is to identify these obstacles and endeavor to understand how they are affecting your life and perception of reality. Secondly, you must learn to deal with them in an effective and resourceful manner that will once again help to move you forward towards the attainment of your goals and objectives. Let’s now take a closer look at each of these obstacles in a little more detail.

Lack of Desire

A lack of desire means that you simply do not have enough emotion behind your actions. It means that the goals and objectives that you are working towards are not yet emotionally important enough. As a result, when obstacles come your way, you will not have the emotional reservoirs available to successfully deal with these challenges, and you will therefore likely succumb to your predicament without putting up a fight.

Lack of Belief in Self & Abilities

When belief is lacking, you have very little hope of achieving anything of significance in your life. The very moment an obstacle comes racing across your path, your lack of belief will manifest in two ways. First, it will manifest as a lack of belief in yourself. Intrinsically you do not believe that you are good enough or worthy enough to achieve your goals and objectives. This stems from a very weak self-concept, which will be a topic of a future Mind Map.

Secondly, your weak belief systems can effectively be directly related to your abilities. When you don’t have enough confidence in your personal ability to successfully get through an obstacle in your path, you will lack the will-power to persist when things get a little tough and somewhat unfamiliar.

Lack of Commitment

A lack of commitment is somewhat related to a lack of desire. However, when it comes to commitment it pretty much stems from your inability to manufacture enough WHY reasons to move you through the obstacles that stand in your way. If you don’t create enough reasons to get you through an obstacle, than you will likely quit when the going gets tough.

It is also important to realize that your commitment levels are directly connected to the expectations that you initially formed when you began your journey towards the attainment of your goals and objectives. If along your journey you are not meeting your expectations, than your commitment will waver and you are more likely to quit in the face of adversity.

Asking too Many WHY Questions

WHY questions are self-sabotaging programming tools that focus you on your inadequacies and weaknesses. When things start to get a little challenging, and externally it begins to appear as though you are fighting against a losing cause, than WHY questions will effectively put the finishing touches on a journey filled with regret and unfulfilled objectives. The moment you start asking yourself

 

Why does this always happen to me?…

 

Why do I always fail?…

 

Why is this always so difficult?…

 

Why is life always against me?

 

Is the moment you should effectively pack up your bags and leave the Big Brother House These questions are unresourceful and self-sabotaging forces that will put you into a state of regret and emotional weakness. Avoid them at all costs

Focusing on What “Don’t Want”

Whenever you are focusing on your problems, obstacles, and uncontrollable circumstances, than you must realize and understand the reality of where you are directing your focus and energy. It is said that whatever you focus on will essentially expand and envelop you in a new reality. Therefore if you continue to focus on the things that you do not want; this will effectively expand the things you do not want within your reality. All your thoughts, actions, behaviors and decisions will create an unresourceful state of weak thinking that will likewise continue to sabotage your progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives. We will discuss the metaphysical processes behind this way of thinking in a future Mind Map.

Being Riddled with Negative Emotions

A negative emotion is basically an emotion that puts you into an unresourceful state, which discourages action and effective decision making. The emotions of worry, anxiety, doubt, overwhelm, anger, and guilt all work together to create a powerful self-sabotaging cocktail that will hypnotize you into a state of self-pity, that will likewise prevent you from achieving your goals and objectives.

Being Riddled with Fears

Over time, our negative emotions usually turn into uncontrollable fears that direct and dictate our daily actions and decisions. These fears will rob you of your life essence and desire to successfully move past the obstacles that stand in your way. The fears of rejection, responsibility, success and failure will leach and drain your energy of the life essence you need to attain your goals and objectives. For further information, please read Steps for Overcoming Your Fears IQ Matrix.

Being Riddled with Excuses

All the above mentioned self-sabotaging forces naturally feed the excuses that we build up within ourselves over time. Essentially there would be no reason to make excuses if the above mentioned forces weren’t directing our behaviors. Yet, it is important to realize and understand that in some ways our excuses are blessings in disguise, as they provide us with an insight into the self-sabotaging forces that are dominating our current reality and process of thinking. Pay attention to the excuses you continuously make, and identify where exactly they originate from.

Identification is the first step that will set you on course towards taking control of the SELF and redirecting it in resourceful and productive way.

• Do they come from a lack of desire?
• A lack of self-belief?
• A lack of commitment?
• Asking too many WHY questions?
• Focusing on what you don’t want?
• Or do they simply come from your negative emotions manifesting as fears?

Obstacles Manifested through Our Actions

Another set of obstacles naturally manifest through our daily actions and decisions. These aren’t so much obstacles that come from within ourselves. They are rather obstacles that come from a lack of judgment, understanding, insight and experience. The first step is to identify these obstacles, while the second step will be to work on strategies that will allow you to correct your course and set you on track towards the attainment of your goals and objectives.

Rushing Decisions

In many instances we sabotage our success and create unnecessary obstacles along our path simply because we rush our decision making process. We rush our decisions because of a lack of time or as a result of external pressures or circumstances. And the consequences of such inefficient decision making can sometimes cost us more than the process of refraining from making the decision in the first place. We will discuss the strategies of effective decision making in a future Mind Map.

Making Incorrect Decisions

Other times we simply make incorrect decisions due to a lack of understanding about a situation, or due to a lack of experience or resources. In this instance we actually take the time to carefully consider our decision making process, and we come up with conclusions that we feel will best assist us to move forward along our journey towards the attainment of our goals and objectives. Yet, a lack of judgment on our part can lead to the creation of unnecessary obstacles that could have been avoided if we had taken a slightly different approach.

Sabotaging Habits

The final action related obstacle that we create is somewhat related to the Self, however, it manifests in external actions that sabotage our progress towards the attainment of our goals and objectives. Our habits are in essence the daily decisions we make, and the actions we take that manifest in the outcomes we experience within your lives. “Action” related self-sabotaging habits such a laziness and procrastination, are ongoing obstacles that many of us fight against on a daily basis. Some of these habits are so deeply ingrained into our psyche, that it is difficult for us to understand how to overcome them successfully. For further information, please read From Procrastination to Instant Motivation IQ Matrix

Obstacles Created by Other People

At times we are confronted by obstacles that are brought about by the decisions and actions of other people. Essentially, it is not so much other people that are to blame for creating the obstacles within our lives, it is rather our approach and how we deal with others that manifests the reality we experience. However, for this discussion let’s ignore that fact, and just take a look at how others influence and create interpersonal obstacles along our journey towards attaining our goals and objectives.

People Not Cooperating

When people do not cooperate, or do not see things from your perspective – this can cause arguments and unresourceful time being spent on trying to convince others that your ideas and strategies are worthwhile and should be implemented. If you want to succeed in life, you must essentially obtain the cooperation of other people who can assist you along your journey. We will discuss communication strategies and aspects of persuasion and influence in future Mind Maps.

People Sabotaging Your Progress

Sometimes people may purposefully try to sabotage your progress by doing things that will throw you off course in order to serve their own personal interests. This is a difficult obstacle to manage successfully if you have little experience in understanding the psychological tendencies of human behavior. We will however look into this topic in a lot more detail in a future Mind Map which will be focused on understanding body language and the keys to identifying dishonesty in others.

People Influencing Your Decisions & Actions Incorrectly

Even though some people may have the very best intentions for you and your future – this doesn’t mean that their guidelines and suggestions will be of greatest benefit for your future endeavors. Other people simply may not have the right perspective, or insight into a situation that would make them effective mentors when it comes to influencing your decision making process. Be wary, as to whose advice you follow at any given moment. By taking the wrong advice on board, you may end up creating more obstacles than you can handle.

Obstacles Springing from Circumstance

Finally, let’s take a quick look at the possible obstacles that could crop up out of the changing circumstances within your life. It is important to remember here, that it is not what happens to us that makes a difference, it is rather how we deal with what happens that determines how successfully we overcome the challenges within our lives.

When Things Just Don’t Go As Planned

In this scenario you have meticulously planned out every detail along the path towards achieving your goals and objectives. However, for one reason or another something unexpected happens and your plans are thrown off course and into another unforeseen direction that brings much stress and anguish to your daily existence.

When Problems & Uncertainty Expand

In this scenario you had successfully managed to handle the problems and obstacles that stood in your way. However, every time you manage to put an obstacle to rest, another problem pops up creating an even greater sense of uncertainty. It seems that the more problems you successfully deal with the deeper you dig yourself into further problems and challenges that appear to have no end.

When Circumstances Lead to the Appearance of Defeat

The above two scenarios of unending problems and uncertainty may in essence lead you to believe that defeat is only moments away. However, the reality of the situation may be somewhat different than what you might imagine. Within the next section we will discuss this in greater detail.

Reasons Behind the Obstacles We Face

In the previous section we identified the types of obstacles that we may face along our path towards the attainment of our goals and objectives. It is important to understand that obstacles are only temporary roadblocks along our journey. For the most part, they are nothing more than interpretations that we make about people, events, ourselves and circumstances. Moreover, obstacles are there to teach us great lessons and help us to better understand our situation, others, ourselves, and the world around us.

In fact, did you know that every obstacle that you face has an underlying reason for appearing within your reality? Within this section of the IQ Matrix will take a closer look at some of these reasons and identify what they really mean to your life, self and predicament.

Life is a Magnificent Journey

We must come to understand that life itself is a journey of self-discovery, and not just a mere combination of small destinations. It is a never ending journey that has many unexpected turns, twists and surprises that make it worthwhile and fun. When you are facing obstacles and challenges in your life, it is important to realize and understand that you are on a journey, and that no “one” event or circumstance determines how your journey will pan out over the course of a week, month, year or longer. Let’s take a look at the journey of life in a little more detail.

Uncertainty is Required to Build Strength of Character

Life presents us with constant challenges in order to build strength of character. Reflect on your past for a moment, and identify the challenges that you successfully faced and the adversity that you overcame. Ask yourself

 

How did these events change me as a person?

 

 

How have they developed and shaped my character?

 

Would I be the same person I am today without having gone through these experiences?

 

How have my current decisions and actions changed as a result of these life events?

Life Moves through Cycles of Changes Like the Seasons

The natural world experiences cycles of change that we call “seasons”. These cycles of change move through stages of birth (spring), growth (summer), transformation (autumn), and hibernation (winter). We all acknowledge the fact that summer must end, just as much as we acknowledge the fact the winter will not last forever. Using this metaphor, it is important to understand that the road towards the attainment of your goals and objectives also moves through periods of seasons. You have your Springs which give birth to new and creative ideas. The Summers grow and expand those ideas in ways that allow you to reap unsurpassed rewards. Then there are your Autumns, which bring with them new obstacles and challenges that encourage transformation of ideas, character and circumstance. And finally, we have our Winters that allow us to enter into long periods of hibernation and deep reflection into our life circumstances, future goals and objectives. When our Winter is over we once again move into the season of Spring, which brings with it new ideas that were cultivated during our Winter hibernation stage.

The Seasonal Cycles of life won’t always move in this particular combination or order, however at any moment in time be aware that you are indeed moving through a cycle. And no matter what that cycle is, be rest assured that this particular season will not last forever, and that no matter how grim your current predicament may be – as long as you persist – there will always be a light waiting for you at the end of the tunnel.

Life is a Journey of Wonders Hiding Around Corners

When it comes to life, we simply just never really know! Our obstacles may currently be overwhelming our perceptions, however our perceptions do not make up our reality. What appears to be an overwhelming amount of problems may only be quite temporary. In fact, if you persist just a little longer, you may find that great opportunities and wonders are waiting for you just around the corner. You just never know.

Life is a Journey of Opportunities Disguised as Problems

The funny thing about life is that it sometimes has a habit of presenting us with a myriad of opportunities presenting themselves to us as unimaginable problems. Remember, what you focus on becomes your reality. If you are constantly searching for problems and focusing on the things that you do not want, than that is all you will perceive within your reality. However, on the other hand, if all you are searching for are answers, solutions and opportunities, than you will always be turning lemons into lemonade. You must effectively teach yourself to search for the seeds of opportunity in every apparent problem that crosses your path. By undertaking this deductive process, you will in essence create a powerful habit that will allow you to spot what others simply fail to notice and perceive in the physical world.

Life Requires New Learnings & Experiences

We do not exist just for the sake of existing. Instead we exist because we are here to learn, to experience and to mature as productive and intelligent human beings. Every problem or obstacle we face has been presented to us for the purpose of teaching life lessons that will allow us greater clarity of thought as we progress forward along our journey towards the attainment of our goals and objectives. Therefore, don’t look down and frown upon the problems that you face, instead turn your frown upside-down and take time to learn from your challenges in ways that will expand your thinking about yourself, your life and your predicament.

Other People Are Relying On You

You can Never Give Up and Never Quit because if you really think about it, there are a multitude of other people who are relying on you to excel and succeed in achieving your goals and objectives. Think about your kids, parents, siblings, family, spouse, colleagues, friends, the people you care about most, etc. How much are each of them relying on you to succeed in this field of endeavor? If you do not do it for yourself, than at least succeed for them. Also, we must come to understand that – whether we know it or not – others are constantly watching and observing our daily life decisions and actions.

As a mentor to the younger generation, you must find it within yourself to set a good example, to lay down specific habits and foundational principles that you would like these younger minds to cultivate within their own personalities. I know it’s a big responsibility, however, their development and future circumstances may very well be determined by the decisions you make today.

Obstacles Allow for Personal Growth

Did you know that you will NEVER achieve the goals you are working towards if you are incapable of learning from the problems (lessons) that life throws your way? In fact, you will never even get close to achieving your objectives if every time a problem arises you decide to look the other way or quit. Life is a journey of learning and personal growth that guides you along the path towards your next stepping stone. Yes, this guidance is riddled with obstacles and problems, however these challenges are there to test our resolve, and to help us to deserve experiencing the goals we are striving for. From this moment on, only view problems as opportunities for growth, and you will move forward towards your goals and objectives with accelerated speed and precision.

Time is Required to Succeed

Today more than ever before we live within a society that is riddled with a diseased “instantly gratifying” outlook on life. We want quick food, love, money and success. Yet, for most of us, this will never eventuate, as success, love and money only come with time. Before you ever decide to Give Up and Quit, consider that you may need a little extra time before things fall into place the way you might have envisioned them.

Time is Required to Build a Strong Support Network

To achieve any goal or objective you need to rely on other people both directly and indirectly. If you are struggling with an oversupply of obstacles than it could mean that you don’t yet have the adequate support network in place that will help you to move through these problems in an effective and efficient manner. Take timeout to build up your network of support by zoning in on people who will naturally compliment your strengths and support your weaknesses.

Time is Required to Collect Resources

Another reason why you may currently be struggling with a myriad of problems and obstacles, is because you haven’t yet built enough resources to better assist you through these challenges. Take time to research and determine the resources you will need, to get you through your current obstacles and problems. Once you have your list together, go out into the world and gather these resources in effective and efficient ways that will help you to overcome your challenges successfully.

Time is Required to Master Life

Mastering life means teaching yourself the skills, strategies, techniques and acquiring the tools you need in order to successfully achieve your goals and objectives. Simply, take some timeout to study the obstacles that you currently face, and determine the skills, strategies, techniques and possible tools that you will need in order to move you through your current problems in an effective and productive manner. Mastering these skills, techniques, strategies and tools, might take time, however your time will be spent on a great cause that will further your success as you accelerate into your future.

Time is Required to Mature & Gather Perspective

Sometimes you may have the support network in place, you may also have the necessary resources and skills that are required to overcome the obstacles that you currently face, however you continue to be stifled by their persistent aggravating methods in sabotaging your journey towards your goals and objectives. In this instance the ingredient that is lacking is simply TIME.

We all need time to mature and gather perspective on our current life predicament and circumstances. In some instances, others will simply not be able to assist us, and we will need to take time to reflect and gather personal insights that can only be obtained from our own personal experiences. The key here is to simply take time out for deep reflection. Reflect on your situation, focus on solutions and work on finding answers that you may not have been aware of before. We will take a look at this in a little further detail in the next section

Knowledge alone is simply not enough; we must instead learn to cultivate a mindset of determination that will help us to persist through the toughest of challenges along our journey towards the attainment of our goals and objectives.

In this section of the IQ Matrix we will discuss the aspects and characteristics of a mindset that is naturally programmed to successfully overcome the challenges and obstacles that unexpectedly catch us off guard. Cultivate and incorporate them into your daily habits and actions, and you will develop the killer instinct that will create unstoppable momentum as you move forward towards the attainment of your goals and objectives.

The Language of Determination

Whether we know it or not, the language we use on a daily basis has a deep and lasting impact on our ability and willingness to persist through the obstacles and problems that we face on a daily basis. The words you speak, the tone of voice you use and the questions you ask yourself when dealing with challenges, are absolutely critical in determining your decisions and actions.

Using Passionate & Positive Words

The words you speak to yourself and to others must be of a positive nature that is further supported by a passionate disposition. The key is to speak in ways that will move you emotionally and motivate you to take the necessary actions that will lead you through the current obstacles lingering within your life, and onwards towards the attainment of your goals and objectives. We will discuss the power of words and language in further detail in a future Mind Map.

Asking Solution Focused Questions

In a previous section we discussed the negative power of asking WHY questions. Now we will briefly touch upon the motivating power of asking HOW questions. Essentially we must teach ourselves to continuously ask HOW questions – focused on finding solutions and answers to the problems that we currently face within our lives.  With practice, these types of questions will allow you to break through obstacles with ever greater ease and regularity. They are the questions that will bring forth creative answers, moreover, they are the questions that will unlock and open hidden doors of opportunity that you may have never expected ever existed.

For further information, please read Strategic Life Questioning Tactics, Awaken Your

Problem Solver From Within and Unlocking Your Creative Genius Potential IQ Matrix. However, for now, here is a list of solution focused questions that will assist you to break through the obstacles and challenges you face within your life:

 

How can I make this work?

 

How can I turn this situation around?

 

How can I strengthen my resolve?

 

How can I turn this into an opportunity to move me forward?

The Beliefs of Persistence

Unless you believe in yourself and your own abilities; you will essentially struggle to get through the obstacles and challenges that present themselves within your life. The first key is to ALWAYS believe in a positive outcome no matter how grim the circumstances may appear to be. Remember, essentially what appears to be “one way” to you, may indeed appear to be something completely different to someone else. You must therefore acknowledge the fact that appearances are subjective, and that you have the power to see things in ways that will further your success and help you to overcome the obstacles you face in a most proficient manner.

The second key is to believe that you have the necessary courage and ability to get through the challenges that life throws your way. Whether you currently have the necessary skills and strategies to pull this off, makes no difference. It all essentially stems from how resourceful you are when the problems of life come knocking on your door. We will discuss how to build empowering belief systems in a future Mind Map topic.

The Characteristics that will Never Give Up

The following are uncommon characteristics that you should work on cultivating into your personality in order to help you develop a Mindset Grounded in Determination.

High Desire to Succeed

People who Never Give Up cultivate within their heart a burning desire to succeed no matter how dire their circumstances may seem. Their desire to succeed is so strong that at times they may even become unreasonable when working their way through the obstacles standing in the way of their dreams and aspirations. Their desire to succeed is strong because they have found effective ways to keep themselves motivated when the chips are down. They also happen to ask the right questions at the right times that focus them on finding a greater array of reasons to keep going forward even when the outlook appears to be bleak.

Wholehearted Commitment

People who Never Give Up have an unwavering commitment to their goals and objectives. Commitment naturally stems from an empowering set of beliefs that keep their gaze locked on their target until it is finally achieved. To create unwavering commitment one needs to become crystal clear about the goals that they are working towards. Hence, these types of people set Smart Goals that will continue to propel them forward despite the challenges that lie in their way.

Unstoppable Determination

People who Never Give Up cultivate a mindset of unstoppable determination. These people simply don’t take “NO” for an answer. They see opportunities where others only perceive problems. They make the most use of every situation and keep moving forward no matter how the circumstances appear to be on the outside – and despite other people’s pessimism and objections. Determination and resolve are created through the cultivation of an empowering and optimistic attitude that pierces through obstacles like a knife through a loaf of bread. We will discuss methods on how to develop an empowering attitude in a future Mind Map.

Self-Reliance

People who Never Give Up are self-sufficient and self-reliant individuals. Even though they continue to build their support network of contacts, they are in essence responsible only to themselves and their most sought after goals and objectives. They take responsibility for their losses as well as their gains wholeheartedly, without pointing “the finger” towards other individuals or circumstances. Because they are self-reliant, this makes them much more resourceful than other individuals. They always know where and how to find the resources, tools, strategies, techniques and skills they need to assist them to move through each and every obstacle that confronts them. They are in essence very much like lions trapped against a corner. You would never bet against them when they have their backs against the wall. Self-reliance is built upon the foundations of confidence. We will discuss strategies on how to develop your levels of confidence in a future Mind Map.

Cultivation of Curiosity

People who Never Give Up have an insatiable curiosity that encourages the formation of questions that most of us would never even think of asking in their predicament. They understand that curiosity breeds effective problem solving and creative thinking strategies to the forefront of their minds. With these powerful tools at their disposal, no obstacle or challenge can stand in their way. If they happen to get stuck, than this only lasts for a fleeting moment while their creative problem solving and curiosity driven frame of mind goes into action. Curiosity is built upon the foundation of asking effective questions.

Unwavering Optimism

People who Never Give Up have an optimistic outlook on life that naturally breaks through barriers and obstacles standing in other people’s way. However, don’t mistake their optimism for stupidity in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. If it was only optimism that drove their behavior, than it would be easy to make this assumption. However, optimism coupled together with all the other qualities listed here, manifest a finely tuned person who sees a vivid reality of each and every situation as it appears from a multitude of perspectives. All the while these people maintain flexibility of thought that will take them over (or under) the obstacles that lie in their wake. Optimism is effectively an outcropping of confidence that stems from a deep desire and belief in oneself and abilities.

Patience through Thought & Action

People who Never Give Up are extremely patient – even though this might not be evident to an outsider. They need to be patient because achieving one’s goals and objectives essentially takes time. One needs time to acquire new skills, tools, support, strategies, techniques, resources, and insight in order to develop a plan that will successfully guide them towards the attainment of their dreams and aspirations. Patience is a characteristic that is built upon the foundations of cultivating the habit of delayed gratification. This is difficult for most people to attain, because our society is unfortunately built upon the objective of instant gratification. Yet, it is only through patience that we will obtain long-term pleasures rather than short-term fleeting moments of gratification that mean very little within the bigger scope of our goals and objectives. We will discuss the process of how to cultivate patience in a future Mind Map.

Breaking through Obstacles

Having encoded a Determination Centered Mindset into your brain, you are now ready to take the final step, which is creating unstoppable momentum through action and thought that will propel you at ever increasing speeds towards the attainment of your goals and objectives. In this section of the IQ Matrix we will take a closer look at the simple actions you should be taking to successfully break you through the obstacles that stand in your way.

The Key to Creating Momentum Begins with Your Approach

The manner in which you approach the obstacles that stand in your way will essentially determine how effectively and efficiently you move through the problems that are currently confronting your reality. Any action you take must in essence confront the obstacle from a flexible, inquisitive, proactive manner that is fun and moves through a process of regular small steps. The challenges we face in life can become rather overwhelming very quickly. Unless we physically take the time to approach these obstacles in this specific fashion, than we risk de-motivating ourselves and stifling our future actions. By following these guidelines you will find that your actions are more effective, and you will confront less resistance as you progress forward towards the attainment of your goals and objectives.

Setting SMART and Effective Goals

Goals are the physical manifestations of our dreams and aspirations. Dreams and aspirations are wonderful and pleasant ideas that we keep within our minds. They are essentially “feel good visualizations”, however they have no concrete basis in reality. On the other hand, setting Smart Goals takes your dreams and aspirations and brings them forth into the physical world. I won’t go into any more details here about Goal Setting, as we have already dedicated a whole Mind Map to this topic. However, I will just point out one thing. Without goals you will have no direction. You will essentially find it difficult to develop unwavering commitment and motivation, and you will fall into the obstacle traps that we referred to within the first section of this post.

Goals effectively lay down the foundations for everything, and are your driving force that will help you to move through the obstacles that stand in your way. The bottom line is, without goals you are far more likely to quit than when you have them clearly laid out in front of you. If you miss this step, and simply ignore the importance of the goal setting process, than you will be like a leaf blowing in the wind – with no direction and little hope, you will drift from circumstance to circumstance without ever achieving anything of significance or value.

Building Your Support Network

We discussed a little earlier on, that it takes time to build and grow a support network of people who will be there for you when you need them most. As you are working your way through the obstacles and challenges confronting your goals and objectives, you will effectively need to be building and growing your support network throughout this process. Your problems will naturally bring forth solutions in the most unlikely of places. Don’t ever doubt anyone’s resources, skills or the assistance that they could essentially provide you with when the chips are down. Always keep an open mind and continue to build your support network of people even when there are no apparent challenges along your path. The essential components of effective Networking will be a future Mind Map.

Acquiring New Proactive Habits

Proactive habits are regular actions you take and behaviors you adopt that keep moving you forward towards the attainment of your goals and objectives – despite the obstacles that are currently blocking your way. Proactive habits could be asking effective solution focused questions, taking the time to do your homework before undertaking certain actions, or simply making an effort to wake up at the same time each and every day, etc. It doesn’t matter what kind of habits you develop, as long as they are moving you forward towards the attainment of your goals and objectives each and every day.

On the other hand, if you are currently riddled with habits that may be sabotaging or holding you back from reaching these goals and objectives, than you must work on breaking yourself free of their grasp immediately. Otherwise they will continue to sabotage your progress when unexpected obstacles cross your path. We will be discussing the process of how habits are developed in a future Mind Map.

Cultivating Foresight & Identifying the Possibilities that Lie Ahead

Finally, in order to overcome your obstacles successfully you must cultivate the habit of utilizing foresight to identify the possibilities that may lie ahead along your path towards the attainment of your goals and objectives. It is after-all better to be prepared for potential problems, than to naively overlook possible scenarios that could eventuate. You should effectively utilize foresight to identify not only problems that may lie along your path, but also the knowledge and skills that you will need to master in order to minimize the resistance and friction that future obstacles may present. We will discuss further strategies and techniques that you can utilize to develop foresight in a future Mind Map.

If you only take one idea from this discussion, it is that life is not about what happens to us, but rather how we perceive, and what we do, with what happens.

Final Thoughts

As a final thought, I’d thought I leave you with a famous poem that was once given to me by my mum to help cultivate the attitude of persistence within my heart. The author of this poem is unknown, however this person’s heart and determination speak louder than words. I hope you enjoy it.

 

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must but don’t you quit.

 

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver lining of the seeds of doubt,
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things go wrong that you must not quit.

Keep Sharing.... & keep smiling