It is a new year and there are goals to be achieved!

I don’t know about you, but I’m really excited for this year because there are a lot of cool things in the mix. I’ve launched a 30 Day visualization challenge, booked a host of speaking engagements, and am even have a goal-setting course in the works for later this year.

As a fellow goal-getter, you might have goals that are as big as mine or even bigger. However, no matter what size your goals, you must be prepared to face barriers to success.

What’s worse, the bigger your goals are, the bigger the barriers to success will be.

No matter how much planning you do, there are challenges that await your inevitable false move. Out of nowhere they will pop up and become stumbling blocks to trip you up.

That’s why I wrote a list of 5 things that could be holding you back this year. If you know what could be lurking around the corner, you can better prepare for it.

The Top 5 Barriers to Success This Year

1. Fear. Fear comes along with big goals, and it happens to even the most courageous of individuals. For me, my big goals were crowdfunding, outreach to book speaking engagements, and building a course. These were big, hairy, terrifying goals!

But I realized something in those moments of fear: Fear in and of itself is not a bad thing. Essentially, it is a warning sign that there’s risk involved with whatever you’re doing. It is a caution sign, not a stop sign, so instead move forward anyways and plan accordingly.

2. Last year. Did something bad happen to you last year that could throw you off track? Did you try something new and fail spectacularly? Did someone or something disappoint you or hurt you to the core? Well, the resulting emotional baggage could hold you back this year and for years to come. Previous experiences color your perspective and may cause you to become “damaged goods.”

You’ll need to process these things and sort through them to get past this barrier to your success. Begin by talking to others about it, owning these temporary limitations, and letting them go, you will be able to move forward once again. However, the process is not easy, and may take some time, so don’t expect things to change overnight.

3. Distractions. Distractions are all around us, from our cell phones to social media and more. We must be cognizant because a lot of these distractions can appear conducive or even necessary to our success. For example, I use social media and my cell phone daily to interact with others for my business. I’m recently learning piano to boost creativity and relieve stress. Each one has been instrumental so far to my success.

However, these items although seemingly beneficial can easily deter you from your goals. That’s why you must use certain activities as outlets, NOT let them become barriers to success.

4. Lack of Discipline. Succumbing to distractions can be a telltale sign you are not disciplined enough. You’ll find that if you aren’t disciplined there is no way you can achieve big goals. To improve, start working on things that require practice, such as working out or learning a new skill.

For instance, by learning how to play the piano, I am committing to practicing multiple times per week, mastering control of my fingers, my eyes, and my focus. At the same time, the discipline I am building in this activity can be used in other areas of my life as well.

5. Limited Mindset. All 4 of these barriers to success lead to what I call a limited mindset. This happens when your perspective, experiences, or beliefs create artificial limits on what you can and can’t do. It’s nearly impossible to achieve big goals when you don’t believe you can do it in the first place.

And it’s for this reason why I wrote an immensely popular self-help book. That’s why I created a 30 day visualization challenge. That’s why I am in the process of building a goal-setting and limit-breaking course. I want you to break free from your previous limits and achieve those goals this year!

However, you cannot do that if these 5 barriers are holding you back.

Use the tips above, as well as the resources I’ve created, to make sure that this year is truly your best year ever!