While many things in your life will hold you back, you are your most significant barrier. If you really want to move forward, you need to understand your constraints and break free from the chains of your own making. Everyone finds it difficult to get where they want to be. Unfortunately, most people go through life in a job they don’t like, with debts they can’t afford and relationships that worsen their problems. But you can achieve what you want with some minor yet challenging changes to your life.

Address Severe Problems

Everyone has their issues. Vices, mental health, and physical disability are among the most common problems that hold people back. But if you experience any of these, you should know that they don’t have to control your life. For instance, if you are addicted to a substance, help is always available (https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/colorado/broomfield/) from various sources like this Christian drug detox program. Likewise, anxiety and depression can severely hamper your motivation, and no one suggests you have an easy time with it. Still, no condition cannot be managed when you address it head-on, openly and honestly.

Plan Your Immediate Future

For all your efforts, it might seem like you are getting nowhere. Fortunately, it’s probably just the case that you lack direction. Don’t be embarrassed. This is really common with most adults. The great news is that it’s not difficult to change your path and focus your efforts towards a better life. The first thing you need to do is break things down a little. For example, you may overthink things, which leads to becoming overwhelmed. If your goal is to be promoted at work within the next six months, break it down into achievable actions. You can complete one each week, such as increasing your production, staying for overtime, or adding value to projects. 

Map Your Long-Term Plans

Of course, all of your short-term efforts should work towards a greater goal. Like breaking down short-term steps into achievable actions, make sure your achievable short-term goals will make your life better in the long run. For instance, suppose you want a larger home in a better neighborhood for your family. In this case, work out how much you need, how much you can afford to save, and how long it will take. Then use your short-term goals to contribute to that larger goal. For example, live more frugally, cut costs and work for a promotion.

Work Towards Your Dream Job

It’s a sad but actual fact that most of us go through life working a job we hate for minimal pay. But even the best-paid jobs aren’t guaranteed to be enjoyable. You could be working a six-figure CEO position and remain inherently unhappy because you aren’t fulfilled. It’s challenging to make your dream job a reality, but it’s not impossible. Maybe you have never had the opportunity to embrace what you want to do. Raising children, life diversion and unfortunate circumstances may hold you back. But you can work towards your career goals with the following steps:

• Research what you need
• Become inspired by people in your industry
• Motivate yourself towards positive steps
• Work out how you can get there
• Develop a network of people in your desired job
• Educate yourself with the necessary skills and qualifications
• Identify a specific company for whom you want to work

For the most part, working towards your dream job is challenging. You may need to relocate home, take night classes for skills and education and slowly work through several other jobs to get there. For most, it takes between 10 and 20 years to reach the desired role, but that’s a drop in the ocean compared to your whole life. And only you stand in your own way.

Ditch Toxic Relationships

Over 70% of new couples break up in the first year. Still, many stay together in a bad relationship that does nothing to improve either person’s life. If you are in a toxic relationship, you will know it, and you need to walk away right now. Physical, sexual, and mental abuse are common in bad relationships. You cannot move forward as long as you remain in one. Additionally, toxic relationships that extend beyond partners and friends and family can also be bad for you. For example, you may have a “best friend” who uses you, puts you down, makes you the subject of jokes, and discourages anything positive in your life. Cut these kinds of people out of your life ASAP.

Change How You Use Food

Stress and anxiety may cause you to abuse substances, and one that is often overlooked is food. Emotional eating is prevalent in women, as eating your favorite foods releases serotonin in the same way as drugs like cocaine. Sex, achievement, and laughing also release serotonin, which is why all these are recommended for natural stress relief. But when you have a problem in your life, you can feel like you need more. When you turn to food, you will eat more than you should. Therefore you will gain weight, fluctuate your mood and develop severe illnesses like diabetes and heart disease if you become obese. 

Moving forward isn’t as easy as waking up and completely changing your life in one day. But one day is all it takes for you to begin the process. First, however, you must identify and leave behind many things holding you back. Substance abuse, bad relationships, and lack of motivation are just some examples of everyday stresses. But help is always available and just knowing what your issues are means you are ready to begin the process of eliminating them.