Mental blocks happen to all of us sometimes.
But when you’re an entrepreneur, mental blocks can not only be discouraging and frustrating – they can actually seriously hurt your business.
So, how can you overcome mental blocks that are holding you back?
And what are mental blocks…really?
Let’s take a look.
What is a Mental Block?
A mental block is any thought that gets in the way of clear, rational thinking.
Mental blocks can prevent you from being productive, from thinking creatively, from staying motivated, and even from building wealth.
Mental blocks may take the form of an unwanted thought about yourself (e.g., “I’m not smart enough for this”) or about something external (e.g., “This project is impossible to finish”).
What Causes a Mental Block?
While mental blocks are common among business owners, it’s important to get to the root of what’s causing them.
Some of the causes of mental blocks could be:
- Fear or anxiety
- Self-doubt and low self-esteem
- Mental fatigue
- A lack of focus
- A fixed mindset
- Difficult past experiences (e.g., If your previous business failed, this may cause a mental block of “I always fail when I try something new”).
- Stress and overwhelm
- General disorganization – either in your mind or with your stuff! If this is you, this post will help: Don’t Give up on Planning until You’ve Tried These 6 Organization Tips.
Figuring out the cause of a mental block isn’t always easy. If you can’t identify the cause on your own, I’d highly recommend talking it over with a friend or even therapist to see if you can crowdsource some clarity!
Common Mental Blocks for Entrepreneurs
At this point, you may be having trouble identifying specific mental blocks that could be holding you back.
But rest assured, ALL of us have at least one or two!
Take a read through this list and note which one(s) resonate with you the most.
- Perfectionism – If a task can’t be done perfectly, it’s not worth doing at all.
- Fear of failure – I would rather not try at all than risk failing.
- Comparisons – I will never be as successful as others in my field.
- The need to stay “inside the box” – I shouldn’t get too crazy with my ideas! It’s better to follow proven strategies and to follow the rules.
- Fear of what others think – What if I try something new and fail? What will others think?
- I don’t have the skills or ability to do this – This is a huge one for entrepreneurs! These types of thoughts are a sure-fire symptom of a fixed mindset.
3 Ways to Overcome Mental Blocks
It would be silly for me to say there’s a one-size-fits-all strategy that will magically help you overcome mental blocks.
However, if you find yourself feeling stuck, overwhelmed or otherwise blocked in your business, I’d strongly recommend starting with these 3 steps.
1. Identify Your Mental Blocks and Self-Limiting Beliefs.
The next time you find yourself feeling stuck, ask yourself which specific thoughts are causing this block.
Chances are, there are some pretty unhelpful and inaccurate thoughts and beliefs swirling around your head!
Thoughts like:
“I’ll never get this right.”
“I should just give up now.”
“This is too hard.”
“Someone else would be better at this.”
2. Actively Work Against Your Blocks.
This one takes practice, but trust me…it works!
Want to overcome mental blocks you identified in #1? Replace those thoughts with more realistic, positive and empowering ones.
To overcome mental blocks, replace your negative thoughts with more realistic, positive and empowering ones.Click To TweetFor instance:
“If I practice, I will get better at this.”
“It’s better to send something imperfect out into the world than not to send it out at all.”
“Doing something hard will make me stronger.”
“I will not give up just because I’m feeling overwhelmed.”
3. Stay Accountable to Someone You Trust.
When you stay in your own head, it’s easy to get sucked back into your old ways of thinking.
This is why it’s so important to confide in someone about your mental blocks.
Share your most common mental blocks with your spouse, a close friend or a colleague, and ask them to hold you accountable.
When they hear you speaking negatively about yourself or see you acting anxious or discouraged, they can gently remind you to replace your self-limiting beliefs with more accurate ones.
Final Thoughts
If you’re struggling with mental blocks, you’re not alone.
This is super common, but just know it is possible to overcome mental blocks.
It just takes a little introspection, a little accountability, and a lot of positive thinking!
Looking for more help with changing your mindset for business success? Check out these posts:
The 10 Core Beliefs to Achieve Success in Life and Business
