Why do you keep pausing your purpose? Now, before you get defensive and boldly proclaim that you’ve never done such a thing… let me explain what it means to pause one’s purpose. Pausing for clarity, thought and rest can all be very important for achieving goals. The problem arises when we pause for all the wrong reasons, like fear, fear, and…oh yeah, fear! Pausing during vital processes, transformations and/or during vital periods of life because of fear often inadvertently hits the pause button on our progress towards our purpose.

Here are 5 of the most common ways we pause our purpose on a daily basis, and they are all based in fear. Although we often do them without knowing it, it’s still an inexcusable way that we cheat ourselves out of walking fully in our purpose while also cheating the world out of all that we have to offer.

Self-sabotaging – Interferes with goals and relationships. Some of the most common self-sabotaging behaviors are procrastination, self-medication with drugs or alcohol, comfort eating, and prematurely giving up on relationships or goals.

Fear of failing – Interferes with goals and relationships. Being so afraid of failing at something that you decide it’s useless to even try. Subconsciously, you purposely undercut your own efforts to avoid the possibility of the pain of failure.

Building walls to keep people, and unpleasant experiences away from your heart – This is understandable after a painful past, but it can also keep you from amazing relationships and experiences. If you believe like I do, that people come into your life for some reason or another, then blocking the most important ones out is a sure way to pause your purpose.

Not asking for the help you need – We were not put on this planet to live alone. God knew that we would need help. He has a way to meet our every need and this often involves other people. But, when we are too prideful or fearful to ask for help… well, we won’t get it. It’s as simple as that.

Surrounding yourself with people who are in opposition to your purpose and destiny – There’s a saying that goes “If you hang out with 9 broke people, you’re bound to be the 10th.” If you want certain things in life, you have to associate yourself with people who also want it or who have achieved it. They will speak the same language as you and understand your goals and ideas. Those who are in opposition to our purpose don’t believe in their own and so, think our pursuit of purpose as a lost cause as well. They will try with all their might to talk you out of your purpose through intimidation, bullying, and ridicule.

Admittedly, I’ve done all of the above at some point and regardless of how justified I felt in doing them, they only caused more pain in the long run and caused me to take longer than I should have to begin living with purpose. Which ones can you relate to? How can you do better?

- Coach Dee, The Impact Coach