There are several factors that may be keeping you from moving forward in life.

These come from outside of us.

I call them blockers—life circumstances, responsibilities, or pressures that can make it difficult to focus on ourselves, our goals, and the things that matter most to us.

When those blockers remain unexamined, life can begin to feel like it’s standing still.

The good news is that once we recognize what is getting in the way, we have an opportunity to respond differently.

Today, I want to talk about three common blockers I hear about often: time, investment, and resources.

Let’s look at what they are—and what you can do about them.

Blocker 1: “I Don’t Have Enough Time.”

The most finite resource we have is time.

You can make more money. You can replace tangible things. But you can’t get yesterday back.

It’s no surprise, then, that one of the most common blockers I hear is:

“I don’t have enough time.”

I’m a mentor to many people who feel stretched to the breaking point—caught between the limited hours in the day and the overwhelming number of things they need to accomplish.

And very often, those things are for other people.

Days and weeks disappear.

And personal goals remain unmoved.

Yet everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, and somehow, some people seem to find the time to do the things that matter most to them.

As givers, we pour our time into others.

We spend hours caring for children, supporting friends and family, serving our communities, helping colleagues, and meeting the needs of the people around us.

And sometimes, we become so accustomed to giving that we don’t even realize how little time we’re giving ourselves.

Self-care becomes something we will get to later.

Our goals become something we will pursue someday.

And the things we’ve been wanting to do remain on the list.

That’s why one of the mindset shifts I teach is:

I get to make time to care for myself.

There is a lot contained in those few words.

“I get to.”

These words hand the power back to you.

They remind you that you have a voice in how you use your time and what you choose to make important.

“Make time.”

You can’t control the 24-hour clock.

But you can make time for the things that matter to you.

Sometimes that means making a big change.

Sometimes it means making a very small one.

“Care.”

This word is everything.

Care is the grace, attention, and love we so freely give to others—and deserve to give ourselves.

When we care for ourselves, we are better equipped to care for the people and causes that matter to us.

So if time is one of the reasons you haven’t been moving toward something that matters to you, try this shift:

I get to make time to care for myself.

Not because everyone else matters less.

Because you matter, too.

Blocker 2: “I Can’t Invest in Myself.”

We live in a world where money often becomes part of the conversation about how we care for ourselves.

And when it comes down to taking care of our needs or someone else’s, many of us instinctively choose the other person.

We spend the money on our children.

We help a family member.

We take care of the household.

We support someone who needs us.

And when an opportunity to invest in ourselves comes along, we hear that familiar voice:

“I can’t afford it.”

Sometimes that is absolutely true. There are seasons when resources are limited and difficult choices have to be made.

But sometimes, there is another message underneath it.

“I’m not worth it.”

That’s an important distinction.

Because the question isn’t always simply about money.

Sometimes it’s about how we value ourselves.

I want to remind you:

You are worth investing in.

And investing in yourself doesn’t always have to cost money.

It can be as simple as taking a few minutes for yourself.

Pausing and taking a few deep breaths.

Washing your face a little longer.

Listening to a podcast on your way to work.

Taking a walk.

Reading something that inspires you.

Dancing while you do the dishes—that’s one of my favorites.

These small things matter.

They remind you that your needs, your energy, your joy, and your well-being deserve a place in your life.

I’ve used the airplane analogy before: secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.

You can’t give what you don’t have.

And caring for yourself helps create the capacity to continue giving in the ways that matter to you.

So here are a few questions you might ask yourself:

• How will taking care of myself help me move toward what matters to me?

• Will this investment help me create more energy, joy, or capacity for the people and things I care about?

• If my best friend told me she was making this investment in herself, what would I say to her?

• What would change if I gave myself the same encouragement I so freely give to others?

To live your fullest life, you get to participate in creating your own future.

Sometimes investing in yourself costs money.

Sometimes it costs time.

Sometimes it simply requires giving yourself permission.

But however it looks for you, you are worth the investment.

Blocker 3: “I Don’t Have the Right Resources.”

Another blocker that can stand in the way of moving forward is not knowing what to do next.

You may know you want to move forward.

You may even know where you want to go.

But you may not know how to get there.

And those are two very different things.

You might find yourself thinking:

• I don’t know what I don’t know.

• Where do I find the information I need?

• Who can I ask for help?

• What if I make the wrong decision?

When we don’t have the answers, it can be tempting to stop.

To wait until we know more.

To wait until we feel more confident.

To wait until the path becomes clearer.

But, clarity comes because we take the next step.

If you’re committed to moving forward, become resourceful.

There is a book called Who Not How by Dan Sullivan that encourages us to ask a different question.

Instead of only asking:

“How am I going to do this?”

Ask:

“Who do I know who can help me?”

We may not know how to do the next thing.

But we may know someone who does.

Or someone we know may know someone who can help.

Resourcefulness is a capacity we develop.

It grows when we become willing to ask questions, seek information, reach out, learn something new, and ask for help.

In fact, some of the most important steps we take in life begin with admitting:

“I don’t know.”

That isn’t weakness.

It’s an invitation to learn.

And sometimes, the next step isn’t about having the entire path figured out.

It’s simply about finding the resource, person, or piece of information that can help you take the next step.

What Is Standing Between You and What Matters? 

Time.

Investment.

Resources.

These are real considerations.

But they don’t have to determine the entire story.

The first step is simply recognizing what has been influencing your choices.

Maybe you’ve been telling yourself you don’t have enough time, putting yourself last, or believing you need to know more before you can begin.

Pause for a moment and ask yourself:

What have I been waiting for?

And then:

What might become possible if I took one small step toward it?

Resilience isn’t about having a perfectly predictable path.

Life will change.

Circumstances will change.

Our priorities may change.

Sometimes the path we imagined isn’t the path we ultimately take.

Resilience gives us the capacity to course-correct, keep learning, and continue moving toward what matters.

Moving forward begins with something very simple:

Making time.

Investing in yourself.

Asking for help.

Taking the next step.

Because what matters to you deserves more than a place on the someday list.

It deserves your attention.

It deserves your care.

And most importantly, it deserves the possibility of becoming real.

— Dr. Lorry