We all encounter obstacles no matter what goal we are trying to reach. These are the things that stand in our way, slowing us down when we are trying to push forward and make things happen. These are the things which determine how quickly or slowly we attain success.
For instance, there may be one area on your commute that is always congested on your way home from work. It is this spot that is the constraint, keeping you from getting to your house quickly so that you can unwind and enjoy the rest of your day. Knowing where this area is, you can then make a decision to find a way that does not slow you down and gets you to your goal faster.
What are some of the goals that you haven’t reached yet? What factors are holding you back? What can be done to overcome those obstacles? When you identify what your constraints are for each goal that you are trying to reach, then you can take action to alleviate those things that stand in your way.
Would it surprise you to know that 80% of all of those constraints are internal? Only 20% of those obstacles are due to an external factor. That means you can achieve so much more by first looking at what you are doing, or not doing, that is keeping you from your goals. Are you bad at time management or planning? What bad habits do you have that are making it harder to move forward? These things can be fixed inside yourself, but only once you acknowledge them and then take steps to get on the right course.
The first place we all need to look when examining our constraints is ourselves. Finding where we are slowing our own progress means that we can make the changes necessary to finally start accomplishing the goals that drive us to be successful.