(ARTICLE) These Seven Toxic Habits Will Hold You Back

If you want to achieve big things, you’ll need to step up to the plate and play in the big arena.

Which means you’ll have to stare down hard at the things that will threaten your dreams.

We all have bad habits. We all fall at their feet sometimes because THEY FEEL SO GOOD.

But, in the end, an obsession with drugs, alcohol porn, unhealthy food or Netflix might not do us justice.

It might keep you stuck.

It might make you envious of others who didn’t do those things.

It might make you a bitter old person. One day.

It’s your life, so you decide. But if you’re up for playing the big game these are the things you might have to let go.

7 Toxic Habits That Will Hold You Back:

1. Trying too hard to be original.

EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE!

Trying to come up with “all new” concepts and be wholly original is exhausting.

So just take something that already exists in the world and put your own spin on it.

As creative guru Austin Kleon puts it:

Steal like an artist.

2. Stressing out about your reputation.

Do your best to stop worrying what the world thinks of you. The world doesn’t care.

The sad thing is that your worries about these people (who are thinking far more about themselves than they are about you) stop you from doing cool, brave things.

Or they make you lay awake all night staring at the ceiling worrying about what you’ve said or done.

Stop caring so much.

3. Being shrunk by your limitations.

We all have fears, we all have limitations.

And that is okay.

What is not okay is living inside them.

We get our biggest highs in those moments when we go through a fear.

When we do something we never dreamed we could do — or be.

Acknowledge your limitations, offer them a tolerant but slightly bored smile, but don’t give them a seat at the top table.

Act in spite of them.

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.”

— Helen Keller

4. Unhealthy Food, Alcohol and Netflix.

Code for addictions.

Code for keeping us on the couch.

We do need fun. And ways to relax. And a little bad food here and there

It’s all okay, as long as we keep a lid on it.

And put some actual effort into keeping our minds and body healthy.

5. Sex Addictions

Sex is a healthy, fun, natural part of human existence, but when it takes over your mind as well as your body, just know you’re not going to be good for much else.

6. Running someone else’s race.

How many times have you heard the advice

“you need to run your own race”

or

“ The only person you should compete against is yourself”?

True, comparing yourself with others will make you miserable.

But it’s actually really hard to run your own race because there’s always someone else in your lane with a little more talent and their shoes already laced up.

So here’s some better advice:

Just run to where you want to run at your own pace. And know that walking is fine, too.

Stop trying rushing everything

7. A love of the safe road.

If you work hard, the safe road might get you a stable career, a house, a wife/husband, some kids, and a dog

Which is fine, actually.

So it’s unfair to call this a toxic habit. It’s really just a choice.

But it’s a choice that might deny you a shot at the big prize. Or freedom. Just saying.

Learn to start aiming higher and thinking bigger.

Start taking more calculated risks.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

— Andre Gide

Till next time.