Have you ever thought about this, “who is the one that hinders your progress most?” What flashed across your mind immediately could be the faces of people you know; you parents, your siblings, your friends, your boss, your co-workers and almost everyone else. How about yourself? The honest one would definitely include himself or herself in the list. I was reading an email from a friend this morning about the world being a mirror and it dawned upon me that we are the greatest hindrance in our own lives. There is no way one can control how others think about him/her but one can definitely control how one think about himself/herself.
How often are you affected by something that people said? I know I am guilty of that sometimes. I remembered a quotation by Abraham Lincoln that goes something like this, “I am not affected by what others are saying as long as I know what they are saying is not true of me.” As I recite this quotation repetitively everyday, I know that I will be less and less affected but what others are saying about me. But it certainly does not discourage one from heeding positive advice.
Thus speaking, one must always be flexible to take in good advice which can create positive change in one’s life. If what others said (which is not true of you) affect you, it may appear that they were hindering your progress. But in actual fact, you are the one hindering you.
I remembered when I first started chatting in the internet, I used the nickname ‘mirror.’ Of course the reason why I used that nickname was not because I was vain but rather to constantly reminds myself to reflect on my thought, actions and words. I did not realize then that I was doing myself a great service. Since oneself is the biggest hindrance in one’s progress in life, what would be a better way than to constantly take stock on ones thought, actions and words.
Quoting from the email I read, “There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: It is You” How often did you tell yourself that something is not achievable or not within your reach? Probably there might be some truths in what you said. Let’s put that aside first. Have there ever been cases before where you thought you cannot achieve something, but you went on and achieved it? Can’t think of any? How about the time when you were still a baby? Did you not learn to walk and to run eventually? You are right, when you were a baby, you did not know how to spell the word ‘impossible’. You just picked yourself up one more time after you fell, you learnt to balance yourself and eventually took your steps. The truth is no one is born knowing how to walk – one learns along the way.
“Be the change you want to see in this world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi certainly said it well in the above quotation. There is only one person who is capable to set limits to one’s growth and it is one. You are the only one who can create positive change in your life. You are the only person who knows what you want in life and you will know that when you look for it hard within you. I would like to share with you a passage which I like:
Your life Today is the result of the choices you made Yesterday. Your life Tomorrow will be the result of the choices you make Today. What are the choices you would make Today that will change your life Tomorrow!
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How true!
I surely hope to make a difference in this world some day. Now I am making a difference and changes to my life! 🙂
Sher, that is the most important. Just as Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Making a difference in the world certainly start with us 🙂
“we are the greatest hindrance in our own lives”
No doubt about it. We are indeed the main problem.
Nice post.
Great post.
Sometimes people hinder their progress because of fear of what other people might think of them. There is ego that holds you back and when you have control of the ego then you can do anything. When you live under the ego of other people is when you limit yourself.
Sidney, when we recognised we are the greatest hindrance in our own lives, we can be in control.
Tim, you have made a good point there. Fear of what other people might think of us and the ego issue can very often hold us back. It indirectly hinders our progress. We have to take control of ourselves before we can move forward again.
I love the quote you’ve used by Abraham Lincoln. It focuses on allowing us to think about our actions and uphold the premise … is it safe for me, safe for the people around me and safe for the environment.
If it meets that criteria then a great follow on to it, is something I heard many years ago was, ‘It’s none of my business what other people think of me.’
So much of our stress comes from worrying what others thinks of us. If our actions are going to keep ourselves, and the people and the environment around us safe then we can simply let that go and be the ‘me’ we were really meant to be.
Love life and life and live it creatively,
Leanne
Leanne, well said! It can be used as a good guideline for taking actions. I will use it to remind myself too – ‘Is it safe for me, safe for the people around me and safe for the environment.‘ Not only the first two considerations are important, it is also important to take into consideration our environment too.
Yeah I agree very much with this post, it’s only you and nobody else that sets your limits. What you can and cannot do. Once you overcome what’s hindering you there’s no stopping you at all :). I made a similar post a year ago I think in my other blog Y360. You are your only enemy, it’s kinda saying the same things you wrote in here 🙂
Earthlingorgeous, wise person thinks alike? 😉
JUST GREAT…………AWESOMEEEEEEEE
Thank you lsh 🙂
Yeah, its true, it reminds me of marilyn Manson interview @ oprah way back 2000. to many questions ask to him and he answers back with only head gestures. but one question made him speak… you love god and why your image is different? — “to make a difference”