Signs You Re Holding Yourself Back In Life Medium

We hear so often that **personal development is all about breaking barriers**, but many of us are our own worst enemy. You may feel trapped in your work, relationships, or even goals, but the reality is the shackles are usually ones you have placed on yourself. Knowing the signs that you’re limiting yourself is the key to real freedom. These five unmistakable signs — and actionable tips to set yourself free — follow. Self-doubt is a subtle dream killer. It mutters, *”You’re not ready,”* or *”You’ll fail,”* and makes you play it safe in your comfort zone.

I remember when I was assigned my first big writing project. My inner critic screamed at me that I wasn’t capable. I put it off for weeks agonizing over every word. When I finally submitted it, I was shocked to see my article in print — and it received praise I didn’t dare hope for. **Letting Go:** Challenge your internal critic by taking **small, manageable risks**. Start with activities just outside your comfort zone.

Celebrate small successes; each success drains self-doubt and builds confidence. Writing affirmations like *”I am capable of learning and growing”* also reconditions your mind. Fear of rejection can immobilize even the most talented individuals. I had this amazing designer who would not pitch to large clients for fear of being turned down. Month after month, she watched opportunity pass her by, asking herself why she wasn’t getting ahead. Rejection wasn’t the end — but waiting for perfection was her jail.

**How to Let Go:** Reframe failure as **feedback, not defeat**. Start embracing setbacks as lessons rather than judgments of your worth. Use the “two-minute rule”: promise yourself **two minutes a day** of doing something you’ve been avoiding. Fear slowly releases its grip, and action becomes habit. Discover how abundance reflects your life force energy and how aligning with your soul opens the true flow of spiritual wealth. Discover the 3 collective energy shifts shaping human consciousness right now — and how they’re awakening new levels of purpose, power, and remembrance.

Discover the two types of spiritual leadership — mass influence vs quiet power — and learn how to lead from your soul as a spiritual leader. You’ll learn the different soul path of a leader of leaders versus a mass influence leader. Welcome to Evergrowing! I write about my learnings building a coaching business for CEOs with over $2 billion raised and over $1 billion in annual revenue. Every month, I host a free office hour to support coaches in building their businesses. Feel free to forward this invite to any coaches in your network.

You can read more about the event and register here! Happy New Year! Thank you for being on this newsletter journey with me. A new episode of Evergrowing is out on YouTube and Spotify. Today, let’s talk about resisting change and holding ourselves back. Recognizing and overcoming self-imposed barriers can unlock your true potential.

Often, we are our own biggest obstacles, unknowingly setting up barriers that hinder our progress. By identifying these self-imposed limitations, we can take steps to dismantle them. This journey involves self-awareness, challenging negative thoughts, and embracing change to achieve personal growth. Ever catch yourself thinking, “I’m not good enough for this”? This self-doubt can paralyze you, stopping you from seizing opportunities. To combat this, start by acknowledging your achievements, no matter how small.

Celebrate these wins to build confidence and remind yourself of your capabilities. The thought of failing can be so daunting that you avoid new challenges altogether. But remember, failure is a natural part of learning and growth. Instead of fearing it, view failure as a teacher who provides valuable lessons. Embrace mistakes as stepping stones toward success. Putting off tasks can be a sign of underlying fears or uncertainties.

This delay tactic only adds to stress and hampers progress. Break tasks into smaller, manageable parts and set clear deadlines. Taking action, even in small steps, can build momentum and reduce procrastination. Everyone has dreams and aspirations, but often, we can be our own biggest obstacles. It’s subtle – you might not even realize you’re doing it. It’s like driving with the handbrake on.

You’re making progress, but something’s holding you back. This is about identifying the signs that you’re standing in your own way. Because sometimes, we need a little nudge to realize we’re not living our life to the fullest. Here are seven signs you might be holding yourself back from living a full life and not even know it. Life is full of risks and opportunities. But if you’re always choosing the safe route, you might be holding yourself back from truly living.

Have you ever scrolled through your feed and seen someone you know maybe an old classmate, a colleague, or even a neighbor who is now finally chasing a dream, starting a project, or traveling... That little twist in your stomach isn’t just jealousy. It’s a quiet signal that something inside you might be keeping you paused. Here’s the thing, most of us unknowingly put up our own barriers It’s rarely dramatic or obvious. Instead, it creeps in through small habits and subtle beliefs such as, overthinking choices until the moment passes, waiting for the “perfect” time that never comes, or downplaying your achievements so they feel safe. Each tiny decision chips away at your potential until suddenly, you realize you’ve built a life that’s safe… but smaller than the one you really wanted.

In this article, we’ll explore the most common signs that you might be holding yourself back, why they happen, and the practical ways to start moving forward. No magic overnight fixes here, it’s just simple steps and gentle nudges to help you stop being your own biggest obstacle. It’s interesting how often we stand in our own way. We become the very obstacle we’re trying to overcome. Sure, there are external factors that can hinder our progress, but what about the internal ones? The self-doubt, the fear of failure, the lack of motivation?

Psychology explains that it’s often us who hold ourselves back. And guess what? There are signs that can help us identify these self-defeating behaviors. So, let’s dive into the 8 signs you’re the one who’s holding yourself back. By recognizing these signs, you can start paving your way towards success rather than blocking it. Who hasn’t put off a task until the last minute, right?

But when it becomes a habit, it’s a problem. "If you feel trapped right now, breathe. Feeling lost doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it means you’re ready for change. Life often pauses us in these moments to push us toward growth we didn’t know we needed. You are not behind. You are not broken.

You are simply in transition. Every season of stillness carries a message — a chance to realign, rediscover your purpose, and rebuild your strength." Have you ever felt like life is moving forward for everyone else while you’re standing still?You wake up, go through the motions, and yet… deep down, you feel disconnected — from your purpose, your... You’re not alone.At some point, almost everyone experiences this heavy, unsettling feeling of being stuck in life. It’s as if you’re caught in an invisible loop, watching days pass by but struggling to find meaning, joy, or direction. The truth is, feeling lost doesn’t mean you’ve failed — it simply means your soul is craving change, clarity, and growth.

But before you can move forward, you need to understand where you are right now. In this article, we’ll explore 12 clear signs you are stuck in life and how they impact your overall well-being. Recognizing these signs is the first step toward breaking free, regaining control, and slowly finding your way back to yourself. Are you unknowingly holding yourself back from your dreams? Take some time to really consider this because it’s more common than you might think. Sometimes, the biggest roadblocks in life aren’t external things—they’re our own thoughts, fears, and habits.

Without even realizing it, you might be self-sabotaging or limiting your potential in ways that keep you from achieving your goals. The good news is that once you recognize these patterns, you can start taking small steps to break free from them. I’m going to share five things you may be doing that are holding you back, as well as specific steps you can take to challenge and change these patterns so that you can thrive... Negative self-talk can be incredibly powerful because it affects how you see yourself and what you believe you are capable of achieving. Negative self-talk happens when that little voice in your head constantly says things like, “I’m not good enough,” or “I’ll never succeed.” Imagine if a friend said to you, “You’re not smart enough to achieve that goal.” How would that make you feel?

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