Bad Habits That Undermine Your Success

Last week I talked about how you can unwittingly sabotage your own good intentions by negative motivation, blaming others and by getting discouraged too easily. Without even knowing it, you can contribute to your own struggles and thwart your goals. Here are a few more things to watch out for:

Lack of clear goals. What\’s your idea of success? What do you really want out of life? This is not what your parents want for you or what your social group expects of you. Your life goals are too important to be set by someone else. Or worse, to be so fuzzy that you can\’t articulate them. Just wanting success isn\’t enough. Wanting to be the best third grade teacher in your state isn\’t even enough. Be as specific as possible. What will make you feel like you\’ve achieved your goal? You can\’t work toward it if you don\’t know what it is.

Inability to prioritize. It\’s easy to have too many goals at once. Yes, you need to lose weight, get a promotion, renovate your house, raise happy and healthy children. And yes, you will have to try to achieve several things simultaneously. But too many goals at once will only set you up for failing to achieve any of them completely. So step back and prioritize. What do you need to focus on now? Once you\’ve achieved that, what\’s the next most important goal? Multi-tasking is just another name for spreading yourself too thin.

Risk taking avoidance. True, some people jump into everything feet first without a thought. But most people are more timid than bold. They are afraid to make mistakes. But what is so terrible about a little mistake here and there? Nothing, as long as you pick yourself up and dust yourself off and try again. If you never try, you\’ll never know what you might have achieved.

Not acting on your good ideas. How many ideas have you had that might have been great? You\’ll never know if you don\’t act on them. Not all will be good, but the path of least resistance is the easiest path, and that\’s the path people take when they do nothing about their ideas. It doesn\’t have to be the greatest invention in nanotechnology to be a good idea. It might be something as simple as getting up an hour earlier to write in your journal.

Insisting on immediate gratification. You\’ve heard of people who are overnight successes, right? Well, chances are they worked hard and long before that success. Nothing replaces hard work, day in and day out. You might not achieve your goal in a day or a week or even decades. But eventually, with persistence and hard work, you will have a good chance. If you insist on taking short cuts because you want results right now, well, your chances are not so good. So get to work.

Nancy Travers is an Orange County Counseling professional.  If you need safe, effective counseling services, please get in touch.  You can reach her here: https://nancyscounselingcorner.com/contact-us

 

If you found this post helpful, you might also enjoy exploring some of our other articles that dive deeper into the topics of relationships, communication, and emotional wellness. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your current connection, better understand co-dependency, or prepare for a healthy marriage, these related posts offer valuable insights and tools to support your journey. Take a look—you may find just what you need.

Related Posts

Uncategorized
Nancy Travers

The Trifecta of Tortured Relationships: Why You Feel So Alone Together

The Trifecta of Tortured Relationships: Why You Feel So Alone Together When couples first come together, it feels like magic. You feel emotionally safe. Supported. Loved. Your partner is the one person you can count on in times of trouble and triumph—a true safe harbor. But over time, that connection can erode. You may feel alone even when you’re together. You might start to wonder: When trust breaks down, emotional

Read More »

Choose Your Partner

A friend told me that every time her husband touches her arm with affection, which is every morning as they wake up, she is stunned that he loves her. No matter what stupid stuff she did the day before, no matter how permanently flawed her personality, he demonstrates that he loves her. Unconditionally. He cherishes her and he lets her know it, even though he merely touches her arm. It’s

Read More »

What and How ADHD Affects Relationships

What ADHD Is in a Relationship Context ADHD isn’t just about distractibility or hyperactivity. It’s a neurological difference that affects: These issues don’t just show up at work or school — they show up at home, in arguments, in missed cues, and in emotional connections. 💥 How ADHD Affects Relationships 1. Forgetfulness & Disorganization 2. Inattention & Distractibility 3. Impulsivity 4. Hyperfocus (Ironically!) 5. Emotional Dysregulation 6. Uneven Responsibility ❤️

Read More »
RELATIONSHIP COUNSELING SERVICES

Find The Counseling Service That Is Right For You

At Nancy’s Counseling Corner, we’re here to support every stage of your relationship journey. Whether you’re navigating challenges in your marriage, preparing for lifelong commitment through premarital counseling, or working through the emotions of separation and divorce, our services are designed with care, compassion, and expertise. We specialize in Marriage Counseling, Relationship Counseling, Premarital Counseling, Divorce Counseling, Co-dependency Counseling—and so much more. No matter where you are, healing and growth are possible. Let’s take that next step—together.

Marriage & Couples Counseling

Marriage is a lifelong commitment that requires hard work, love, care, and understanding the needs of other people.

Relationship Counseling

Can help you find–and keep–the love of your life. Relationships are challenging and require an extensive amount of patience.

Divorce Counseling

Divorce Counseling is an emotional and strenuous thought for those seeking to solve marital problems.

Depression Counseling

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by at least 10-14 days of noticeable or recognizable low mood.

Co-dependency

“Codependency” is a term we hear thrown around a lot these days, though many of us aren’t sure exactly what it means.

Premarital Counseling

Offers Premarital Counseling to couples in the Orange County area that are considering to get married or are already engaged.

Anxiety Counseling

Offers Premarital Counseling to couples in the Orange County area that are considering to get married or are already engaged.

Meditation

Offers Premarital Counseling to couples in the Orange County area that are considering to get married or are already engaged.

Hypnosis

Offers Premarital Counseling to couples in the Orange County area that are considering to get married or are already engaged.