Self-Destructive Habits Holding You Back From Success

William James Durant was an American writer, historian, and philosopher who was born in 1885 and died in 1981. His teachings lived on after his death and one famous quote that will take you far in life and business if you hold true to your aspirations.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.” And often it is your habits that determine your success — or stand in its way.

If you can embrace change and rise above the habits that are stand in your way, you can reach the potential you’ve always held all along. Here are several self-destructive habits to be aware of:

1) Allowing Someone To Define What You Want:  It’s your life, so put a stop to allowing other people to decide for you. Take back control, and set healthy boundaries. Make your own decisions, and own your own life.

2) Playing It Safe:  If you’re on a timid path, you’re probably fearful about the future. But playing it safe will never be as satisfying, or bring the rewards, of taking the risk and going for it — and getting hurt, making mistakes, and having failure in the process. It’s the choices you make along the way that make the journey so rich, so don’t rob yourself of that experience.

3) Letting Negativity Rule:  How many negative people do you have in your life? How many negative thoughts in a day? It’s easy to be surrounded by negativity without even being aware of it. But it’s expensive — it often comes at the cost of the things you want. Cut out negativity from your life, and give that energy back to yourself.

4) Living In The Past: Whether it’s nostalgia for the good old days or an inability to get beyond a damaging history, dwelling in the past keeps you from moving forward. Do whatever it takes to bury the past so you can come into the now.

And most importantly, giving up too soon. Most of the time you have given up right at the moment when things start to turn around for the better but you won’t be there long enough to see it happen. Don’t do that to yourself and have that “what if” thought linger around your brain slowing driving you insane.