What are your BIGGEST personal development "problems"/obstacles?

[Mattyyy]

Title of the post kind of says it all. What kinds of personal development problems plague you the most?

Do you suffer from not being able to set and achieve goals in a timely manner? Can you achieve your goals, but have problems with staying productive? Do you have a problem with keeping a positive mindset and staying focused when life seems to beat down on you? Anything else?

Share your problems! Maybe we can help one another, too. Don't feel ashamed to share your problems, as well. All obstacles are obstacles, big and small.

(If you've read Steve's book, we can use this post as kind of an exercise to diagnose problems with truth/love/power, to see if we can create solutions that are grounded and will work.)

EDIT: The grammar in my title is driving me insane and I can't change that! That can be my first obstacle. Grr!

[Said1]

Well, I'm having problems getting rid of someone. Obviously, I am the obstacle as there is a lot of guilt and fear surrounding this person and their 'removal' from my life. This is a major problem, in my life, right now.

[ns123]

I have a problem with spending too much time on personal development forums and helping everyone else with their problems instead of actually taking action in the direction of my vision.

And I watch more tv than I would like.

[aggie]

well, unfortunately i realized today...after going for sometime at work...(where we are a pretty tight knit small group)...feeling that i did not take anyone's moods or outbursts or not talking to me personally...the last couple of days i have been a victim of that and right now i feel as insecure about going to work tomorrow as i did going to school the next day. at my age that is horrifying to me. i think it is the same old thing tho'...being pretty easy going and positive most of the time...and the moment i am not..wham...plain and simple need for acceptance and validation...doesn't rear its ugly frequently...but when it does it is very uncomfortable

[Lena Carpenter]

Oh, yay, a thread where I can vent. It's my darn crankiness that causes my problems. Like today, I'm completely crabby and I think people notice it. Thing is, on most days, I'm very positive, but when I'm tired or PMS, I cannot get my thoughts to go into a productive direction. It's like there is always something negative and catastrophic to think about. I like Steve's advice and I keep it in mind today. It makes me giggle: "PMS. Accept the fact that you can still get your work done even when you’re pissed at everything."

[MSC2471]

I would say my personal development problems stem from support in my family. Having two adopted daughters with severe trauma and reactive attachment disorder issues, I often have to put the brakes on what I want to do with my life goals to keep their lives on track, safe and secure in their development.

Maintaining a balance is something I've been working harder on over the past few months. It's one thing to gain knowledge through reading, going to seminars, listening to audio-books, etc.- but putting the information into action needs to happen on a day in, day out basis and I know that's an area I'm going to place more emphasis on during the summer.

Matt

[findinginspiration]

My personal development problems begin with self-discipline. I'm 26 and it took me a couple years to get out of my college frame of mind. Spent too much time going out, downloading music, drinking too much, etc. I'm out of that routine as I don't go out very often and when I do I am pretty much in control. I am now spending my time reading, learning, blogging, etc. HOWEVER, it bothers me when I have a lapse and end up drinking too much. So I rationalize and tell myself that I'm only in my 20's and I shouldn't be bothered by a few wild nights here or there.

I'm also very active and workout quite a bit, half-marathons, etc. BUT sometimes I will go back to my college behavior and but a cigarette off of a fellow friend who happens to smoke.

So sometimes I seem to have internal conflicts. I want to be healthy and active - so why do I bum cigarettes sometimes?

[Daffy Duck]

Self-discipline is my only one.

[aggie]

don't forget modesty

[aggie]

actually, more seriously...i find some people are threatened by anothers self discipline...i've come across this...i have been accused of being judgemental...i think if you express anything about some people feel threatened or weak by it....just my opinion....

[lemjau]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

Self-discipline is my only one.

But when you think of it, it really comes all down to this SELF-DISCIPLINE (not shouting lol ) What ever you want to change or develop, enhance... or... what ever....it takes self-discipline.

I am stuck in so many things that I don't care to list them but the OP asked so nicely so here it goes:

1. have unsolved personal issues that are preoccupying me (nothing serious but there all the time)
2. procrastination big time - have so many ideas and projects in mind but I don't do anything about them (this is only in one area)
3. spend too much (from time to time)

Enough for today or I will start to cry over my sad existence. BTW I am a verry happy and lucky person but would love to be better.

[ns123]

Originally Posted by MSC2471

I would say my personal development problems stem from support in my family. Having two adopted daughters with severe trauma and reactive attachment disorder issues, I often have to put the brakes on what I want to do with my life goals to keep their lives on track, safe and secure in their development.

Matt,

I came across a website (a few years back) of a mom of a RAD child and the practice of Mindful Living has helped her a lot.
Her website is here:
janetajackson.com - Home

I hope it helps you find what it helped her find.

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by lemjau

But when you think of it, it really comes all down to this SELF-DISCIPLINE

I agree and thought the same thing, which is why I said what I said.

[lifetimelearner]

I would have to say mine is Fear

[aggie]

you made me think: PHOBIAS

[The David]

I would say my biggest obstacle is defining "Personal Development".

My first definition was more of an ego-driven, fundamentalist type thing. I was obsessed with changing parts of myself without any kind of focus or courage. I think I wanted something to hide behind because I had just dropped out of church. I could have easily been sucked into a cult at this point.

That evolved into a less idealistic, less spiritual, more down-to-earth approach. I measured success in purely materialistic terms. I was extremely competitive and made myself miserable because my heart wasn't really in it.

Right now, I'm trying to balance insatiable curiosity with focus and sitck-to-itiveness. I'm older now and I'm wanting to see fewer proverbial pans on the fire, and more tangible accomplishments. But I'm not wanting to become too narrow, either.

When I have a goal in mind and I know it's worth the time and effort, nothing can hold me back. But I can't seem to stick with the more trivial pursuits the way most people can.

[Remiel]

Time and my lack of it

[marinik]

Finding my "True North"!

[Mattyyy]

It's interesting to see how the obstacles are pretty varied; most people seem to either have a larger problem (e.g., 'self-discipline') or they have a smaller, more focused problem (smaller in the sense that it's not a broad topic, more narrowed, more personal.)

My biggest obstacle is seeing a goal all the way to completion - sometimes I get pretty far and I think I'm 'done' so I stall out. Often this isn't a problem, but it would still be nice to go all the way.

[Gerto]

My biggest obstacle? Knowing what I want to do with my life!