Stop Holding Yourself Back: How to Shift Your Focus and Take Action

Have you ever found yourself stuck, knowing what you want, but unsure how to get there? Maybe you’ve set goals for yourself in the past—whether that’s weight loss, career advancement, or personal growth—but you keep hitting roadblocks. You know what you want, but something always seems to stand in your way.

It’s incredibly frustrating. The truth is, the biggest obstacle between you and the life you want is often not what you think. It's not a lack of information, resources, or support. It’s a simple, yet profound shift in focus—one that many people overlook.

When you focus on the wrong things, you end up creating the very situation you want to avoid. What if I told you the solution to breaking through these barriers starts with changing where you focus? In this post, I’ll show you how shifting your mindset and actions can transform the way you approach your goals—and it’s easier than you think.

What’s Holding You Back?

We all have dreams, but how many times have you found yourself thinking, "I’ll start tomorrow" or "Maybe next week"? That subtle delay is often rooted in fear—fear of failure, fear of judgment, or even fear of success. It's that nagging thought that whispers, What if I don’t succeed?

But here’s a hard truth: you’re letting your focus dictate your actions, and your actions are creating your reality. The question isn’t whether you have the ability to succeed, it’s whether you’re truly focused on the right things.

Imagine you're running a race, but instead of focusing on the finish line, you're constantly looking at the obstacles. The more you look at them, the more you feel like you’re being pushed backward. The reality is, focusing on problems, setbacks, or obstacles only magnifies them, leading you to feel stuck.

We all do this. We obsess over what might go wrong, what hasn’t happened yet, or what others might think. This pattern becomes a cycle. You keep your attention on the challenges, and that’s exactly where your energy goes.

So, how do you break this cycle? By shifting your focus to what you want to create, rather than what you fear.

Discovering the Path Forward

Now that we’ve identified where your focus may be leading you astray, let's talk about how to shift it. It’s not about denying obstacles, it’s about redirecting your attention toward your goals.

Here’s how you can begin:

1. Focus on your desired outcome: Instead of worrying about the barriers, remind yourself of your end goal. Visualize it. Feel it. Imagine the satisfaction of achieving it.

2. Move your focus away from the “what-ifs”: Fear will always exist in the background. The key is to acknowledge it, and then move forward anyway. When fear arises, don’t engage with it. Instead, direct your attention to what you need to do today to get closer to your goal.

3. Create small, actionable steps: Focus on what’s in your control. When you break down your big goal into manageable actions, it becomes easier to move forward. For example, instead of thinking, I need to lose 50 pounds, focus on What’s one thing I can do today to improve my health? It could be a walk, a healthy meal, or a simple meditation to center yourself.

   
   

By shifting your focus in this way, you’ll begin to empower yourself. This transformation is rooted in the power of small, consistent actions that accumulate over time. The key is to stay focused on the future—not the present discomfort or past failures. You have the power to choose where to direct your energy.

Simple Steps to Start Today

You may be thinking, "That sounds great, but how do I actually make this shift?" Here’s the roadmap to get you started today.

1. Identify What’s Within Your Control: Take a moment to write down what you can control in your life. For example:

   • Your daily habits

   • Your mindset

   • Your reactions to challenges

2. Set Your Focus on Actionable Goals: Set a goal for today. Just today. Don’t think about the long term—focus on the steps that will help you move forward, even if it's just a little bit. For example:

   • Walk for 10 minutes

   • Eat one healthy meal

   • Meditate for five minutes

3. Celebrate the Small Wins: Every small action is a step in the right direction. Celebrate those moments. They build your confidence and momentum.

4. Commit to Consistency: Don’t wait for motivation to strike—simply commit to doing the work every day. Even if it’s a small effort, consistency is key.

These steps aren’t complicated—they’re just designed to help you get out of the cycle of fear and doubt. By committing to one thing each day, you’ll begin to rewire your brain and create a new focus on action and progress.

Igniting Your Motivation

I know what you’re thinking: “But what if I still don’t feel motivated?” It’s a common concern. Motivation is fleeting, but action is what creates long-lasting results.

Here’s the truth: You don’t need to wait for motivation to show up. Motivation follows action, not the other way around. Once you take a small step, the next one becomes easier. The more you act, the more motivation you’ll feel.

Consider this story: One of my clients, Sarah, came to me feeling stuck in her career. She wanted to change jobs but kept getting paralyzed by the fear of rejection. After several sessions, we focused on redirecting her attention to what she could control—her preparation, her confidence, and the actions she could take each day to move forward. One step at a time, Sarah began applying to new jobs, networking, and preparing for interviews. Before long, she not only secured a new job but found that she had more energy and confidence than ever before.

Sarah’s success wasn’t due to some burst of motivation—it was because she made a conscious decision to focus on small actions every day. And you can do the same.

Insights from Dr. Peter Gagliardo

As a coach and guide, I’ve seen firsthand how people can transform their lives when they make a simple shift in focus. One of the most powerful things I tell my clients is, "You don’t need to be perfect, you just need to be consistent."

What’s remarkable is that when you focus on the right things—your actions, your mindset, and the small steps that lead you to your goal—you’ll find that results will come naturally. It’s a simple yet profound shift that allows you to get out of your own way and start making progress.

As I always say, "The key to success isn’t a perfect plan—it’s a commitment to keep moving forward, one step at a time."

Here’s what I want you to remember: You already know what you need to do to succeed. The only thing standing in your way is where you focus your attention. When you shift your focus from what’s holding you back to what you want to achieve, everything changes.

It’s not about waiting for motivation. It’s about consistently taking action, even on the days when you don’t feel like it. Each small action compounds, and over time, it creates the change you desire.

Ready to take the next step? Let’s work together to shift your focus and help you build the life you want. Book your free discovery session today and let’s make a plan that works for you. Click here to schedule now.