6 Mistakes That Keep You Struggling in Life And Stuck

A psychotherapist, psychology instructor, keynote speaker, and the author of the bestselling book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do

Whether you’re dealing with financial problems, family conflict, or work-related issues, struggles in life are inevitable. Overcoming life’s struggles is never easy. If you’re making any of these mistakes in your life, it’s likely that you’ll just keep on struggling.

1. Are You Uncertain What Your Goals Are?

If you don’t have clear goals, it can be hard to stay on track. Without goals that you’re working toward, you may feel like you’re floundering aimlessly.

You’ll do your best when you have clear goals in mind. Your goals can help you make decisions about your career, your finances, and your social life. It’s easier to view struggles as challenges that you can overcome when you have bigger goals that you’re working toward.

2. Do You Insist on Immediate Gratification?

While today’s world offers a lot of instant gratification in terms of same-day delivery, instant movie streaming, and call-ahead seating, the rest of the world doesn’t always move so quickly. If you expect everything in life to to come easy or happen fast, it can lead to a lot of frustration.

Patience is necessary when you’re overcoming obstacles in life. Hard work takes time. If you expect immediate results, you’ll likely be disappointed and you may just keep struggling in life rather than persevering with hard work.

3. Do You Have Difficulty Prioritizing What to do First?

If you feel overwhelmed by all the changes you need to make, it’s likely that you’ll remain stuck. Often, people want to lose weight, quit smoking, earn more money, or move to a better place, but they struggle to prioritize what to do first.

If you try to work on everything all at once, it’s unlikely you’ll be successful. Trying to address too many problems at the same time can leave you paralyzed when it comes to deciding what to do first. It’s important to prioritize which order to address your issues and begin working on them systematically.

Take a look at this guide and learn how to prioritize life: The Ultimate Guide to Prioritizing Your Work And Life

4. Do You Give Up Easily When Things Don’t Go the Way You Want?

If you give up as soon as things don’t go your way, it’s unlikely that you’re going to be successful in overcoming your struggles. A common mistake people make that keeps them struggling in life is that they give up if their first attempt to solve the problem does not work.

Most problems require many attempts to reach a successful solution. Often, creative solutions are needed to successfully resolve problems. However, if you quit trying as soon as your first attempt at a resolution isn’t successful, you aren’t likely to move forward.

Learn how not to give up even during tough times: Giving up Is Not an Option! How to Not Give up and Stay Motivated

5. Do You Blame Others in Your Life for Your Mistakes?

Blaming others for your struggles isn’t helpful. In fact, it’s necessary to take responsibility for your behavior and your ability to work through solutions before you can successfully overcome many of life’s struggles.

If you blame your childhood, bad luck, or lack of support for your problems, you’re likely to stay stuck. However, if you can own your mistakes in life and develop strategies to overcome problems, you’re much more likely to be successful.

So, stop victimizing yourself and start being responsible for what happen to you: Why Do I Have Bad Luck? 2 Simple Things to Change Your Destiny

6. Do You Ask for Help When You Need It?

There are times that you will need help from other people in life. Asking for help can be difficult if you aren’t used to it. However, asking for help can be one of the best ways to overcome a variety of problems.

Sometimes you may need help from friends, family, or co-workers. At other times, you may need professional help. A willingness to ask for help often shows strength and courage. Here’s How to Ask for Help When You Feel Silly to Do So.

Practice helping others when you can and ask for help when you need it.