5 Attachments That Prevent Your Success

“Most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.” ~Dalai Lama

Are you living the life of your dreams?  If not, it is likely that you have attachments that are standing in your way.

Believe it or not, every negative emotion you feel is the result of one or more attachments.  The single best way to enjoy unlimited success is to free yourself of your attachments.

Take some time and determine if any of the following 5 attachments are impeding your progress and success:

1. The greatest obstacle to success is the need to be comfortable. Seeking out comfort is a basic human need. There are few, if any, greater drives than the desire to be comfortable. Unfortunately, success does not equate to being comfortable. Comfort comes from the familiar, but the familiar doesn’t bring change.

  • It is only by embracing discomfort that you can become successful. Understand that your uncomfortable feelings mean you’re doing something new. If you want new or different results then you need to take new actions. Those new results might be exactly what you’re looking for.

2. The second greatest obstacle to success is the need to be right. As much as we don’t like to admit it, even to ourselves, we are wrong about many things. If we need to be right then we block out reality – we live in our own little world that is removed from the truth. Seek the truth instead of seeking to prove that you are right. Instead of trying to force your current perception on reality – take the time to build a more accurate map of your world.

3. Your attachment to your identity is another obstacle. Do you believe that you are naturally a heavy person? If you do, a lean and healthy body will be out of your reach. Do you see yourself as an shy and introverted person? If so, you’ll never become a great public speaker.

  • It’s very challenging to create a reality that is completely at odds with your identity. What do you get out of holding on your opinion of yourself? Let it go and see how great you can become. You have nothing to lose.

4. Do your habits keep you stuck? If you think about it, your life is the simply the expression of your habits. Incrementally, our lives get either a little better or a little worse each and every day. Cumulatively, over the course of months or years, your habits will dictate the quality of your life. Clinging to your current habits keeps you stuck.

  • Let go of your old habits and make room for the new. Many success experts believe that the development of new, effective habits is the cornerstone of success. To become successful, it might be necessary to develop habits like exercising, journaling, networking, or reviewing your goals regularly.
  • Habits are another way we that we comfort ourselves. It’s uncomfortable to break old habits and to create new ones.  Fight the resistance you feel to stay comfortable.  It’s worth the effort in the long run!

5. Your success can also be limited by your attachment to places and people. You may not be able to find the best opportunities where you currently live. Being attached to your home, be it a city, town or country, can limit what you can accomplish. Consider just how attached to your current location you are. The world is big and the best opportunity for you might not be within 50 kilometers of your home.

  • We often become attached to places because of the people there. It’s not easy to leave friends and family to attain success. The people in our lives are also habits. Try this exercise: think of the most successful people you know. Describe the people they spend time with on a regular basis. Now compare that to the people in your social circle. Can you see a difference? Moving ahead often means letting go of certain people.

Attachment is limiting. If success isn’t coming quickly enough, your attachments are part of the challenge. Examine your tendencies and determine if any of these attachments are impeding your progress. Be open and willing to change.  Be prepared to accept another point of view. Many attachments are pleasurable in the short-term, but are ultimately detrimental. Let go of your attachments and enjoy greater success.

Comments are closed.