Change is difficult for most people.

Left to our own devices, most of us would rather carry on as we are.

But if you're holding yourself back from your potential, or if you feel stuck where you are, life is telling you it's time to make a change.

Often it's the most brightest, talented people who need this message the most.

Here are nineteen ways you may be holding yourself back, with solutions for the first steps to take in getting unstuck:
 

1. You never have enough.

If you look at what you have with a sense of longing for more, nothing will ever be enough.

But if you look at what you have with a sense of gratitude, you will always feel you have more than you need.

 

2. You experience limitations.

Limitations exist only in your mind.

If you use your imagination and exercise your determination, the possibilities become limitless.

3. You lack confidence.

We all have a voice of self-doubt, and if you listen to it you will always lack confidence.

To gain confidence, tune out that inner voice and find a new skill to master.

 

4. You feel you've lost control.

Passivity is a terrible enemy.

If you aren't running your life, life can run you over.

Start today to take active charge in one area and expand it from there.

5. You ignore problems.

Ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away.

Instead of putting your energy into dealing with the fallout from your problems, use it to face what's in front of you and work toward finding real solutions.
 

6. You stop making plans.

An idea without a plan is just a dream.

Find enough faith in yourself to start setting goals and working toward setting those ideas into motion.

 

7. You don't take action.

Knowing what to do isn't enough.

To get unstuck, you have to take action.

Set small, manageable goals every day and start building on those baby steps.

8. You don't believe in yourself.

The worst form of undermining is the kind you do to yourself.

Tune it out and start giving yourself positive messages--and surround yourself with others who believe in you.

9. You have negative thoughts.

It's hard, maybe even impossible, to get positive results from negative thinking, which makes negativity incredibly damaging.

When you catch your thoughts turning toward negativity, stop yourself at that moment and spend some time counteracting the negative.

10. You keep doing what you've always done.

If you're not getting good results but don't change you're the way you do things, it's going to be more of the same.

Find the weakest point in your processes and start making changes there.

11. You stop trying.

Running out the clock is a terrible approach.

Wherever you are, whatever's gone wrong, whatever your ideas are, you deserve to be heard.

Remind yourself daily that you deserve your best chance at bringing your plans to fruition, and start with small goals.

12. You blame a lack of resources.

Even if you don't have everything need, teach yourself to do what you can with what you have instead of spinning your wheels.

You'll be surprised at how much you're able to accomplish.
 

13. You don't take responsibility.

When you don't hold yourself accountable, you are basically saying you cannot count on yourself.

Remind yourself daily that you're responsible for, and make sure that principle is reflected in your words and actions.

 

14. You're not present.

It's been said that 80 percent of success is showing up.

Commit to being where you're needed in body, mind, and spirit.

 

15. You fear failure.

Don't let yourself be paralyzed by fear.

Remember that if you give it your best shot and fail, you'll have learned something valuable that prepares you for whatever will come next.

If you let fear persuade you to not even try, you'll be left with nothing but regret.

16. You're your own worst enemy.

You wouldn't (or shouldn't) allow a friend or family member to belittle your achievements or abilities--so don't accept it from yourself.
 

17. You lack courage.

Too often we think of courage as the absence of fear.

Courageous people experience just like the rest of us--but they overcome it because their commitment is bigger.

18. You're waiting for a starting bell.

You don't need anyone's permission, and a perfect time will never come.

Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can to get moving.

 

19. You compare yourself to others.

Unless you know their heart and mind and circumstances as well as your own--which you can't--it's a waste of time.

Compare yourself to where you started to get a sense of how far you've come, or to where you're headed to check your direction.

Leave others out of it.

 

Start today to let go of any excuses that are holding you back.

Take the first steps right now to get unstuck and will yourself toward your success