Roadblocks...Just an Expected Detour of the DreamChasers Journey!

By Erika Fehrenbach Prell

Hey there, DreamChaser! How’s it going? Wow! We are well on our way to getting those goals and dreams that we set out for going into the new year. Err...maybe not. Did you, gasp, get derailed on your way? Just kidding...there’s no gasping required as well as no shame, justified excuses, blaming, or any other negative, unserving response. How would you feel instead if I told you getting derailed is an expected part of the journey to your goal?

That feels quite a bit different, doesn’t it? All that negativity that had hold of you should start to float away, releasing you from their paralyzing grip. In SoulShine Life Connections terms, those derailments are called roadblocks. Images and visualization are awesome tools for helping to get from where you are to where you want to be. When thinking of getting to your goals and dreams, envisioning a road is a powerful image. It has twists and turns. There are pit stops along the way, which are milestones you will hit on your journey. Occasionally, something unexpected happens! You go around a curve, and the road is under construction! Whoa! The GPS, or your goal action plan, didn’t have this on there! For a moment, you are stuck, confused, unsure of how to proceed. But, if you stay calm and don’t give up, you will see the detour signs! This detour might be longer or wilder but it will definitely show you something that you never saw before.

To expect an epic road trip, which is a fun way to think of going after those big goals and dreams, to go exactly as planned is unrealistic and, frankly, boring! In all truth, no matter how well you plan and anticipate these roadblocks, there is always something new that pops up. These unexpected roadblocks might just be life’s best teachers, if you choose to find the detour and learn from them rather than allow them to stop your progress.

In case you aren’t sure what form these roadblocks might take, here are 10 Common Roadblocks to Your Goals & Dreams:

1. Procrastination...all in the name of someday. Interesting, someday never comes so you just don’t start. A close relative of this is waiting to start until you feel ready, which may also never come. 
   
2. Perfectionism...making sure you have the perfect (insert sarcasm) plan. Spoiler alert...no plan is perfect. Being stuck here prevents you from starting as well.
   
3. Lack of Vision or Planning...you need to know where you are headed with a rough idea of what to do to get there to stay the course. This would be like going on a road trip without a map or GPS and expecting to arrive at your final destination. It’s an idea but not an effective one!
   
4. Avoiding Change...here’s the thing, change is inevitable in the goal-getting, dream chasing process. Whatever you desire will require you to change your thoughts, behaviors, or actions...or maybe all three...to get there. You will need to face change head on to succeed.
   
5. Fear of Failure...this is a big one, especially with those big goals and dreams. You will most likely be trying something new, and chances are you won’t be very good at first. Failing is an inevitable part of the process.
   
6. Imposter Syndrome...self sabotage at it’s finest! This is when you start having success on your quest and people start to notice; you believe you don’t deserve the accolades you are receiving, that you are not as good as people perceive you to be.
   
7. Negative self-talk...this is that Itty Bitty Shitty Committee we have discussed before. That negative voice that tells you over and over again that you can’t do this or aren’t good enough...or worse things. Hard to prevail under those circumstances!
   
8. Impatience...this often appears with goals that will take a while to achieve. You want results yesterday and give up before you see the results of your hard work.
   
9. Fear of Success...this one might seem strange! This often stems from putting pressure on yourself to keep performing in the future.
   
10. Self-limiting Beliefs...you can only achieve what you believe. If deep down you don’t think you can get the goal or dream you want, you simply won’t be able to.
    

This list is definitely not comprehensive as roadblocks can be as individual as the person at the wheel but these are definitely common ones that show up. Take this list and today’s blog as what it is meant for, to help you have your eyes wide open so you will enjoy more success and be better prepared. I’ve said this before, and I will say it again, there’s a fine line between grace and excuses. I’m giving you grace that getting derailed is part of the process. But, now that you know it is, it’s up to you to learn from it, apply the lesson, and move on so it doesn’t become an excuse. Today’s a new day...right now is a new moment. You’ve got this, DreamChaser!

Shine on!