There is always room for improvement in everyone’s life.  However, we usually handcuff ourselves in some way which prevents us from moving on to that higher place.

What is it for you?  Do you know?

You have to learn to untangle yourself from whatever it is so you can begin to enjoy a more fulfilling life.

The things that tie us up and keep us from living life to the fullest aren’t always obvious, but they are there.  Some things are more subtle and hidden than others. 

You may think your bad habits are harmless, but if they are holding you back from improving your life, then they need to be broken.

Set Yourself Free to Live a Better Life

For whether it be a strong wire rope or a slender and delicate thread that holds the bird, it matters not, if it really holds it fast; for, until the cord be broken the bird cannot fly.
~ Saint John of the Cross

Are you like a bird tied down by a piece of thread so that you cannot fly?  Again, I’ll ask, what is holding you back from a better life?  For most of us, it is simply a thread.  A small bad habit that ties us down.  For others, it might be a strong addiction that acts like a wire rope or chain.  Either way, you need to break it and set yourself free.  I want to help you identify your thread and how to untie it.

20 Things that Hold Us Back and How to Break Free

Here are some common things that entangle us and keep us from living life to the fullest.  Clicking the links in this list will take you to articles that will help you break free.

1.  Denial

The first step in breaking free is recognizing and admitting that you have something holding you back.  Denial is a huge issue that we have to overcome before we can even begin to be free.  Denial is an insidious master that often goes unnoticed.  I recommend reading Living in Denial: Don’t Let Your Inner Pig Win to see if you have an issue with denial in your life.

2.  Fear

Fear is often the thread holding us back from living life to the fullest.  There are all kinds of things that you might fear, but one thing is certain.  Fear is a prison.  It is imperative that you Cure Your Fear To Get The Most Out of Life!  Don’t let your fear rule you any longer.  Break free!

3.  Self Doubt

We all have moments of self doubt, but some of us tend to dwell there longer than others.  This can be very detrimental to a full and rewarding life.  You have to Toss Out Feelings of Insignificance and embrace the idea that You Are a Powerful Force so you can reach higher in life.

4.  Lack of Planning

A wise proverb says, “He who fails to plan, plans to fail”.  You must have a clear and well-defined plan if you want to succeed.  What is your life plan?  Without one you are NOT living life to the fullest.  I’d highly recommend reading How to Live Life to the Fullest: A Step-by-Step Guide to get your plan together.

5.  Clutter

Clutter clogs up our life.  It gets in the way and causes one to feel overwhelmed and depressed.  You must clean up clutter to live a great life.  You just do not need all that stuff.  Here are 10 Questions to Help You Declutter your life and break free.

6.  Complexity

Similar to clutter, complexity in life is a drain.  There are all kinds of ways that we overcomplicate our lives.  To break free, we need to embrace simplicity.  I’d suggest starting with this list of 27 Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life.

7.  Debt

Debt definitely is a ball and chain that weighs you down and holds you back from living life to the fullest.  When you owe people money, you are a slave to them.  You work for them and not yourself.  Read more about why I think being Debt-Free Is The Path To Financial Success and then follow the steps in Getting Debt-Free Using The Debt Snowball Technique to pay off your creditors.

8.  Efficiency

Yes, I said efficiency.  Being too efficient robs life of a lot of joy.  In fact, I think that Efficiency Thwarts Happiness and the Good Life.  You have to learn to slow down and ditch your hurriedness to live a fulfilling life.  Stop rushing and start really living.

9.  Lack of Focus

Our lives become what we focus on.  If you are focused on nothing, then nothing is what you are going to get.  Is a lack of focus holding you back from getting what you want?  Learn to focus your attention and you’ll be amazed at how quickly things start to happen for you.  My fourth rule for smart living is to Focus Your Thoughts and Actions to get the most out of life.

10.  Giving Up

Some of us have a tendency to give up too easily.  This can certainly hold you back from living the best life possible.  Your pot of gold may be just around the next corner, but if you stop now you’ll never know.  If you think you are prone to giving up then read How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough.

11.  Wrong Ideas about Happiness

Stephen Covey warns us that we don’t want to climb the ladder to success only to find it is leaning against the wrong wall.  However, that is exactly what many of us do because we have the wrong ideas about what makes us happy.  If you think this might be you, then check out How We Judge Success Determines Our Happiness.

12.  Poor Eating Habits

Good health is essential to enjoying life.  You can’t live a rich life if you feel bad or have diseases that cause you pain.  One of the leading causes of health problems is a poor diet.  It really isn’t that hard to improve your diet.  Here are The Eight Best Foods To Eat Everyday and all of them are very common things that most people like.  Break free from your poor eating habits!

13.  Lack of Exercise

There are at least 13 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits Of Exercise.  If you don’t exercise, you are likely not going to have adequate energy to really enjoy life the way you want.  Exercise doesn’t have to be boring or overly strenuous.  For example, I use Wii Fit as a part of My Personal Fitness Plan.  Lack of exercise may be the thread holding you back from a better life.

14.  Dwelling in the Past

The past is the past.  Your life is happening now.  If you spend too much time focusing on the past, then you need to Forget the Past: Let It Go to Fly Higher.  The past will hold you down like an anchor if you let it.  Focus your eyes on what is in front of you to get the most out of life.

15.  Comfort

Comfort is NOT an Option if you want to grow and achieve better things for yourself and your family.  You aren’t going to find a great life sitting on the couch watching television or laying in bed.  You’ve got to get out there and engage in life if you want great things for yourself.  Break your addiction to comfort!

16.  Being a Control Freak

You cannot control every detail of life.  If you try, you will wring all the joy and adventure out of it.  This will leave you bored, lonely and desperate.  You’ve got to ask yourself, Are You A Control Freak In Your Relationships?  If so, then you need to fix it.  It is costing you more than you know.

17.  No Spiritual Life

We are more than flesh and bones.  The sooner you realize this and accept it, the sooner you’ll start living a better life.  Here are 7 Good Habits for Faith that will help you build a strong spiritual life.  Faith adds meaning and purpose to life which are essential to living life to the fullest.

18.  Dull Sense of Creativity

Are you creative?  Most people would say they aren’t, but this is simply not true.  You just lack a true sense of your creativity.  We all create.  We were born with innate skills in this area.  We just don’t exercise them.  You need to Rekindle Your Creativity to live the best life possible.

19.  Frenzied Thinking

We are masters of working ourselves into a frenzy especially during periods of adversity.  However, this state of stress, anxiousness and worry is detrimental to our lives.  Here are 5 Ways To Calm Your Thinking And Deal With Adversity that will help you mitigate the negative effects and maximize your life.

20.  Denying Stupidity

We all make stupid mistakes sometimes.  The best thing to do is to Admit Your Stupid Mistakes and learn from them.  This leads to growth.  Denying our stupidity leaves us stuck in ignorance and prone to repeat our errors.  Acknowledge your stupidity to break free from it.

Which of these things is holding you back from a better life?  Untie yourself and fly!

Photo by cdogstar

I am trying to learn from the mistakes of others in this area.  I intensely pursue success financially and professionally.  However, I also seek significance in my life.  Today, I thought I’d share seven ways I strive to make my life more fulfilling.

1. Living Intentionally.  I make a plan for how I want to invest my life.  If I don’t have a chosen destination with a mapped out route to follow, then I get lost.  This is really the foundation I use to make sure I prioritize those things that truly add meaning to my life.
   

   “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” ~Stephen R. Covey

2. Creating Balance.  I have to work diligently to create balance between work and home.  This is not always easy.  It often seems that these two areas of my life are diametrically opposed.  However, I believe it is possible to be successful in both places.  It just takes effort.  We have all seen those that are workaholics and in the process sacrifice their families.  The result is usually disastrous.  I believe that my wife and children need me in order for them to achieve their greatest potential in life and just as importantly, I need them.  I can only achieve my greatest successes with their love and support.
3. Being Grateful.  According to U.S. Census data in 2006, the median income in this country was over $48,000 per year.  Worldwide this figure is less than $8,000!  I am rich!  In addition, I have a lot of other things to be grateful for in the United States.  I have safety, security and more than enough food to eat.  It is easy to watch the evening news and get depressed with talks of recession, war, and crime.  It is also easy to start envying what other people have that I don’t.  However, this just steals my joy.  I try to focus on what I do have and exercise my gratefulness.
4. Spending Quality Time.  I try to spend quality time with my wife and friends.  I am getting ready to go away on vacation with my wife for a week.  We are leaving the kids with family and just the two of us are getting away together.  We try to do this once a year.  I have found that this does wonders for our marriage.  It also does wonders for me!
5. Giving Time to Children.  I get a kick out of spending time with my children.  They see things that I don’t.  They are full of joy and wonder towards the world.  When I spend time with them, some of their enthusiasm  and creativity rubs off on me.  I believe that there is no better way for me to invest my time.  They need me and I need them.  When I want a good laugh, I don’t search for a sitcom, I go find my children because they can always deliver in this area.
6. Treating Others Like I Want to be Treated.  I try to live by the Golden Rule.  It is a simple moral compass.  It works in every area of my life.  I have found that if you treat everyone with courtesy and respect, you will go farther and be happier in life.
7. Exercising My Faith.  My faith is an essential piece of who I am.  Attending weekly services is a vital part of keeping myself grounded.  It is a positive input into my life and reminds me to do all of the things I have listed above.

These seven things make my life more fulfilling.  I count them as the priorities in my life.  They enrich my heart and refresh me.  They are the well I draw upon for the motivation and drive I need to succeed in the rest of my life.  What do you do to create meaning and fulfillment in your life?  Leave me a comment and let me know.

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