We all have habits, but sometimes those habits are more damaging than we’d like to admit.

You might look back on your life and struggle to identify the reasons you’re not moving forward or feel unsure if what you’re experiencing is just a part of life or a result of your own actions.

How do you know if what you’re doing is holding you back, or just the typical ups and downs most people go through?

After reflecting deeply on my life and the lives of my friends, I have compiled a list of 7 behaviors that could be the very obstacles stalling your progress. 

If these resonate, it might be time to say goodbye to these habits and finally get ahead in life.

1) Unhealthy comparisons

We all do it. We look at our friends, family, or even strangers on social media and compare ourselves to them.

“Why am I not as successful as them?”

“Why don’t I look like that?”

“Why am I not as happy as them?”

These questions can flood our minds and cloud our judgment.

Comparing ourselves to others can often lead to feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction. This constant comparison game is one that we will never win because there will always be someone who is better, prettier, or happier than us.

This habit of unhealthy comparison is a massive roadblock in our path to progress. It hinders our ability to appreciate what we have and focus on our own journey. 

Instead of looking at others and feeling jealous or inferior, we should use their success as motivation to improve ourselves.

Remember, the only person you should be competing with is the person you were yesterday.

2) Perfectionism

This might seem surprising. After all, striving for perfection is seen as a positive trait, right? But taken to an extreme, it can actually be quite harmful.

Perfectionism can lead to procrastination, as the fear of not doing something perfectly can prevent you from doing it at all. It can also lead to burnout, as striving for perfection often means pushing yourself too hard and neglecting your own needs.

Moreover, perfectionism can blind you to opportunities for growth and improvement. When you’re focused on making everything perfect, you can miss out on the chance to learn from your mistakes and become better.

Embrace that mistakes are an inevitable part of life and that they are not failures, but learning opportunities. 

The goal should be progress and not perfection.

3) Fear of change

We find comfort in the familiar and dread the unknown. But often, our fear of change is what keeps us stuck in situations that no longer serve us.

Change is an inevitable part of life and growth. Embracing change rather than fearing it can open doors to new opportunities and experiences. It can lead to personal development, career advancement, and overall life improvement.

Yet, we often resist change because it’s uncomfortable. It requires us to step out of our comfort zone and face the uncertainty. But every great achievement in life was once a change that someone was brave enough to embrace.

Recognize that staying where you are might feel safe, but it won’t allow you to grow or move forward in life. It’s time to say goodbye to the fear of change and greet the possibilities that come with it.

4) Constant negativity

Did you know that our brains are wired to focus more on negative experiences than positive ones? This is known as the negativity bias, an evolutionary trait designed to keep us safe from danger.

However, in our modern lives, this bias can often work against us. Constant negativity can lead to stress, anxiety, and even physical health problems. 

It can also hinder our progress by making us focus on what’s going wrong instead of identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.

Negativity can manifest in various ways – always expecting the worst, constantly criticizing others or yourself, or feeling like a victim of your circumstances.

Try to cultivate a more positive mindset. This doesn’t mean ignoring the negatives but rather acknowledging them and then focusing on what can be done to improve the situation. 

Remember, a positive mind finds opportunity in everything while a negative mind finds fault in everything.

5) Living in the past

We all have past experiences that have shaped us, some pleasant and others not so much. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our past, in our mistakes or our glory days, that it holds us back from living in the present.

Regretting over past mistakes or constantly reminiscing about the ‘good old days’ can stop us from moving forward. It keeps us stuck in a time that no longer exists and prevents us from fully experiencing the here and now.

We cannot change what has happened in the past, but we can learn from it. Every mistake made is a lesson learned. Every success achieved is a confidence booster. But they are all in the past.

Acknowledge your past, learn from it, but don’t let it dictate your present or future. 

6) Overworking

In a culture where being busy is often equated with being important, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overworking. We’re taught to believe that the more hours we put in, the more successful we’ll be.

But here’s the truth – overworking doesn’t necessarily lead to success. In fact, it can lead to burnout, decrease in productivity and even health problems. Overworking can also take a toll on your personal relationships and overall quality of life.

Working hard is important, but so is finding balance. If you’re constantly working late into the night, skipping meals or canceling plans just to get more work done, it might be time to reassess your habits.

It’s time to say goodbye to overworking and hello to a more balanced lifestyle.

Success isn’t just about professional achievements, but also about maintaining your health and happiness.

7) Excessive worrying

Worrying is a natural human response to uncertainty. However, when it becomes excessive, it can hold us back from taking risks, making decisions, and living life to the fullest.

Excessive worrying can lead to stress and anxiety, clouding our judgement and preventing us from seeing things clearly. It can keep us stuck in a cycle of ‘what ifs’ and worst-case scenarios, causing us to miss out on opportunities and experiences.

The future is uncertain, and that’s okay. Instead of wasting energy on things that may never happen, use it to take action on what you can control now.

Practice mindfulness, live in the present moment, and remember that life is a journey full of ups and downs. Facing challenges is part of that journey, not something to be constantly worried about.

A deeper look into self-improvement

Breaking free from old habits involves a lot of self-reflection. It’s about understanding why we behave in certain ways, what triggers these behaviors, and how they affect us and the people around us.

This understanding is key to making long-lasting changes.

The process of change also requires acceptance – acceptance of our flaws, acceptance of our past mistakes, and acceptance of the fact that we are all works in progress. It’s crucial to be gentle with ourselves during this process. 

There will be setbacks and there will be failures, but that’s okay. What matters is that we pick ourselves up and continue moving forward.

Celebrate your victories, no matter how small they may seem. Each step forward, each old habit broken, each new habit formed, is progress worth celebrating.

It’s about embracing a journey of self-improvement and growth. It’s about becoming the best version of yourself, not just for success, but for a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

Taking responsibility

As we conclude this journey of self-reflection and learning, I want to emphasize one fundamental principle that will serve as the cornerstone for all the changes we aim to make – taking responsibility.

You see, it’s easy to blame circumstances, people, or even our own past for our current situation. But the truth is, the power to change our lives lies within us. 

No matter where we are or what we’re going through, we have the ability to take charge and steer our lives in the direction we want.

But taking responsibility isn’t just about acknowledging our role in our current situation. It’s also about reclaiming our power to shape our future.

It’s about deciding that from this moment forward, we will no longer be victims of our circumstances but active participants in building the life we want.

So if you want to finally get ahead in life, start by taking responsibility.

Acknowledge where you are, understand how you got here, and decide where you want to go. Then take action – say goodbye to the behaviors holding you back and embrace those that propel you forward.

Your life is your story. And while you may not be able to rewrite the past chapters, the rest of the book is still blank. You hold the pen. You decide what story gets written next.

Choose wisely.