Why Some People are Stuck

Not being stuck in life but having thriving relationships and creating the life you want comes down to understanding the difference between two words…and choosing the latter.

Opportunity vs. Obligation

You have to take action to make a better life. Your brain is not wired to do that. Your brain doesn’t want to do the more challenging thing. It is wired for short-term focus. If you can learn to look through a different lens and see long term, you can move forward.

Your brain will always go to the short-term, easier route. You need to learn to get your brain to seek the long-term goal.

Let’s say that your short-term goal is to work out. That means you must get off the couch, go out in the cold, drive to the gym, and strain your muscles. This is an obligation. If you want to work out at the gym, you are obligated to go there. Ugh. Most people don’t succeed at this because they are focused on the obligation.

What if you looked at working out as an opportunity? What could come later on, down the road? You would lose weight, gain muscle, look better with your shirt off at the beach, and live longer and be healthier!

So, if you want to go to the gym and start working out, consider it an opportunity, not an obligation.

Instead of focusing on the obligation, think of the opportunity while doing the obligation.

If your life is going to change, you have to be the person to change it.

Think about your marriage. Marriage means that I am in this situation for life. I’ve got to take the good with the bad. I’m obligated to stay in this relationship. What if you saw your marriage as an opportunity to serve your mate, a chance to better yourself, become a better communicator, mature, and think of others before yourself? Wow. My mind just exploded! How about yours?

Any family obligation is an opportunity to better ourselves, mature, and learn how to face adversity with grace.

Take the right actions right now.

What about saving money? The obligation thinks: I must cut back on things I want to buy. I am going to need to budget and restrict myself. That takes time and discipline. Maybe I’ll even have to learn about saving and investing money -- boring.

But the opportunity thinker says: I could have more financial freedom in my future. I could travel more. I could retire earlier. I could stop stressing about money and focus on controlling and maintaining what I have. What?!

People are looking at short-term gains. Look for the opportunity you have in the future if you take some prosperous steps right now.

Say no to the easy things in front of you and say yes to the long-term, more challenging things.

Instead of focusing on the obligation, think of the opportunity while doing the obligation. If your life is going to change, you have to be the person to change it. There is no knight in shining armor. Be your own best advocate. Focus on what you want to become. Enjoy the ride.

Master this, and you can take the necessary actions to create the future you want.