Almost all of us, I’m sure, have people in our lives. Friends, family, partners, neighbours, colleagues. The list goes on. Some of us will be delighted by the people we have around us. We’ll note the joy they bring, and how the relationships enrich our lives. The truth is, though, that not everyone has the perfect network, and most of us have a mix of the good, the bad and the indifferent. We navigate those relationships with a degree of expertise, knowing who we can rely on and who perhaps not. What do you do, though, when some of the people in your life are the real barrier to your success
It can be a challenging adjustment when you realise that not everyone you know is on your side. You suddenly discover that friends and colleagues have something other than a constructive agenda. There is a dawning realisation that family and partners are progressively undermining you. Those people you thought to be supportive are not. It’s a horrible feeling.
The very obvious solution is simply to remove those unhelpful people. Be brutal and cut them from your life. Yet life is rarely that simple. How many of us are willing to destroy friendship groups, family connections, or work teams because something is holding us back?
One of my recurring recommendations is to take a step back. Look at who in your life is being the barrier. Then think about their motivation. Are they out to sabotage, or are they being unintentionally obstructive? Who and what does it affect if you cut them out of your life? Can you live with the consequences?
Additionally, you may want to consider if you’re using them as an excuse. Are they obstructing you, or are you glad of the way out? Both are possible. Furthermore, you may then want to consider how important your plan is to you. Overall, do you gain more by pursuing your plan and potentially losing some along the way?
Finally, you can take the issue head on. Speak to the barriers. Point out what you want. Express your determination. Tell them what your success means to you and, potentially, to them. How they respond may well assist you in what you decide to do next.
So, if you’re aware of who is holding you back, do something about it. If you’re not sure what to do, book an initial consultation here, and then work out what your next steps are. You know that you can do it and you know that it makes sense, don’t you?
