Success and Abundance Aren't Just for the Lucky!

Do you ever wonder why some people are successful at what they set out to do and others are not? I do. Whether it’s a diet, financial goal, or finding love, what differentiates those who are successful from those who are not?

In Peak Performance, there are 7 steps to success: 1) deciding to achieve at a high level, 2) identifying and overcoming blocks to success, 3) setting goals that are consistent with your personal values, and 5) developing a plan, 6) making a commitment to do whatever it takes to succeed, 7) taking the first step NOW.

Each step involves self awareness, confidence, optimism and an “abundance” mindset. Successful people have a “can do” attitude and a willingness to take risks, to go outside of their comfort zone, and to seek the knowledge and support of experts. Larry Winget, author of Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life, says the world is divided into two types of people, the “will’s” and the “will-not’s.” His point is that it’s not knowledge or ability that limits us, but that most of us are not willing to do what it takes to be successful in any chosen endeavor.

For example, most procrastinators know what they need to do to finish a project. They have the skills to do so. What they don’t have is the willingness to change the way they approach things. They aren’t willing to get a head start on things, even though they are able to. Similarly perfectionists know what kind of a result they want on their projects. They have the skills to accomplish something, but they are not willing to lower their standards so that they can either begin or complete the project. They aren’t willing to let things be “good enough.” Even though both of these work styles cause problems in achievement, to change them would require someone to go outside of their comfort zone.

To try something different often causes anxiety, which can cause us to avoid change. When success requires changing one’s perceptions or process of doing things, this is where people balk. In psychology we call it “resistance.” I call it “internal blocks to success.” A classic aphorism says, “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.” Most people are afraid of the unknown, which is why making change, even self-initiated change, is often difficult.

To get started you need to define a vision of success for yourself that fits with your values. Often we let others or societal expectations determine what we think “should” be our goals, and then wonder why we have no enthusiasm for accomplishing them. Ask yourself, “What is success to me? What do I want to do that fulfills my highest purpose?” The poet Goethe says, “Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

Then, imagine yourself as that person, doing and being successful in your life. Call that image up in your mind and step inside of the “future you” to see what it feels like and what the world looks like from that vantage point. If you are like most of us, you’ll feel somewhat uncomfortable with that image of yourself, as we have a fear of success. This is where some work needs to be done to reduce that discomfort. As motivational writer, Zig Ziglar says, “You will never perform consistently in a manner which is inconsistent with how you see yourself.”

Overcoming internal obstacles to success is the most challenging part. Here’s where my training in EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) really augments all the other techniques I’ve learned for motivating positive change in one’s life. EFT helps erase the internal fears and barriers to success, thus allowing you to move more confidently and easily into the planning and action phases. By addressing and reducing the intensity of those internal fears, self-doubts and barriers to success, you are freed to take effective action. Common blocks to success and abundance include self-defeating beliefs, not having a powerful enough goal, fear of success, negativity, lack of focus, discouragement, and fatigue. All of these can be turned into set up phrases and used with EFT.

In addition, I've paired EFT with positive affirmations or goal statements. Not only does the EFT help "install" the belief in the affirmation faster than mere repetition, it also helps manifest that goal! I know because I discovered that accidentally. I was using EFT to tap along with the affirmation, "Large sums of money come to me quickly and easily." When I wrote the affirmation, I didn't believe it at all. About 6 weeks later, I got a call from my brother that I was going to inherit about $3000 from the sale of my Mom's house. Never in my life did I expect to get anything from my parents' estate. I also receive an unexpected check for over $900 from an insurance refund that I thought ended they year before. The next year I surpassed my intended income goal. I was on to something.

If you have a BHAG, or Big Hairy Audacious Goal, what fears and self-defeating assumptions are blocking you from taking action towards that goal?

Annette Vaillancourt, Ph.D. - Corporate Trainer and Motivational Speaker
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