When I first started my own business with Primerica, it was all new and exciting. I went on field training appointments, took some courses, wrote the provincial exams for both my life insurance and mutual fund licenses. The possibilities were endless, you might even say infinite.
Not everything went well or as I had expected it to go. I began to struggle with the belief of whether I could make it work or not. I was suffering from a mindset that didn’t allow me to accomplish what I wanted to do.
You might say I had “Possibility Paralysis“.
Changing my mindset has been a challenging process as I am going from an employee or employer mindset to the entrepreneurial mindset of a business owner.
Knowing the content of your character and the limitlessness of your potential can be hard when the world around you is filled with limiting beliefs and commonly accepted glass ceilings. I believe that most people have no idea what the opportunities that surround us are solely because they don’t have the ability to see them. The power of possibility is only as strong as an individuals ability to see that which currently is not. Mike Pirtle
Les Brown talked about “possibility blindness.” He described a condition many of us suffer from without even realizing it, a condition that blinds us to the potential within ourselves and the opportunities around us. Possibility blindness is when we are so fixated on the obstacles in our path that we fail to notice the opportunities around us. It’s the voice in our heads that whispers we’re not capable, the societal message that we’re too old, or the cultural implication that we’re not the “right” kind of person for success.
Dr. Deborah Gilboa writes, “We’re afraid of discomfort, most of us. Which makes sense – it’s very uncomfortable! Seriously, our brains are wired to shy away from that which makes us hurt, afraid, cold, sick, angry. What’s the harm in clinging to comfort? Well, I’ve talked some about the harm it is to our teams and our kids and our partners when we can’t risk, can’t let go. We model – and even idolize – safety over improvement. We’ve talked about how hard it is to reach a goal if comfort is our top priority.”
“Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!” Andrew Carnegie
“Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must, but take the step.” Naeem Callaway
“You can choose courage or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both.” Tim Elmore
“Evaluate the people in your life; then promote, demote, or terminate. You’re the CEO of your life!” Tony Gaskins
James Clear writes, “I have had periods in my career when I have been sprinting full speed and accomplished a great deal and I have had seasons when I have been fairly lazy and coasted on my previous effort. What I have learned is that I am the major obstruction to getting results. Whether external conditions are favorable or unfavorable makes less difference than whether I am fully engaged and consistent. Even in competitive fields, the competition is primarily within yourself.”
Is your inner negativity committee holding a never-ending meeting in your head? It’s time to tell them to zip it and get out!
Meandering Moose 