Are you already running out of steam with your New Year's Resolutions? See! That's why I hate this whole "Resolution" culture. It's a momentary kick in the butt and it fades fast. Like when I first started running, I hit a wall, I got blocked and it happened surprisingly early in my training. I wouldn't be tired, I was just bored. Half way into my run I'd hear the thoughts starting - "I'm done. I can't do more!" And it would be a total LIE. There's only so much thinking you can do on a run before those thoughts dead end and your mind says out loud, "Now, what?" And I realized fast - I got nothing. Not that I don't have good reasons to run. You probably have great reasons behind your Resolutions, but face it, that shiny, happy feeling goes quick when faced with real work and repetitive action. And it sucks. And it sucks more when you feel like you're at the bottom of a mountain. Have you ever wanted to do something and felt blocked or you hit a wall, and you don't know how to get passed it? Roadblocks and walls are the pits. Blocks and walls don't just exist in running, they're everywhere. Writers hit walls and feel blocks. Your co-workers hit walls with work. Everyone goes through it at one time or another and when things aren't flowing or there is this ginormous hurdle you just can't seem to get passed it can cause anxiety or worse make you obsess about what is standing in the way of what you want. This might come as a shock so you may want to sit down, but THE BLOCK IS YOU! Whether you know it or not you have a shadow self that stands in the way of your success or triumph. It's like running into the dark side of you that tells you, "You can't do this." Three weeks into 2014, and you might already be saying "I can't" over and over. There is a force in the world that is trying to keep you down and keep your from getting what you want. Some of it is fear, some belief, some doubt. You can choose to identify yourself as fear and doubt or you can take back your power and go after what you want. But here is the good news - BLOCKS ARE BLESSINGS! Blocks are a moment in life where you are seeing your unconscious personal beliefs. Your beliefs create limitations, limitations you tell yourself are real. Blocks are blessings in that they give you an opportunity to make your own choices. Don't be owned by the force inside of you trying to make you afraid, lazy, or less that what you want to be. Look at your blocks as an opportunity to grow. And remember - WHAT YOU WANT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WALL! You don't grow unless you leave your comfort zone and won't know what it takes to get what you want unless you rise to the occasion and accept the challenge. Laziness plagues us all at one time or another. It's so easy to become creatures of comfort and give into that soft warm security blanket. No one great ever hide under the blankets when duty called. In order to find out what is waiting for you on the other side of that wall you must leave your comfort zone, allow yourself to be uncomfortable, bored, and keep going. The wall and blocks are not real, it's just time for you to overcome what has been holding you back. Blocks and walls are self imposed. I am not telling you that getting over that wall is always easy, but going through until you're out the other end is a lot better than giving up. Life is what you want it to be and you can either rise to the occasion and go get what you want, or you can succumb to laziness and remain blocked, never growing. If that is your choice, that is your choice. But for all of you who have faced blocks and walls and want to get passed them, remember you will get through that wall. It's not to say that once you get through one wall another won't appear, but just remember, blocks and walls point at the limitations you self impose. If you don't like those limitations change the story. Keep going when you want to stop. Keeping trying when you want to give up. What roadblocks and walls have you had to overcome? You have any special tricks? I would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments in the box below. If you found this post informative and inspiring please share it with others. Post it on FB, Pinterest, or Tweet it. XO, Hayley