12 Reasons You're Limiting Your Success and What to Do About It

Written by Priscilla Hinds, Growth & Wellbeing Strategy Coach

Priscilla Hinds is an ICF-accredited coach specialising in growth, wellbeing, and mental fitness. As the founder of dream work achieve and creator of the happy growth coach app, she’s dedicated to helping people unlock their full potential and create lasting, positive change in both their lives and businesses.

Feeling stuck, frustrated, or off track? What if the biggest roadblock to your success... is you? Success means different things to each of us, but at its core, it’s about living a happy, healthy, purposeful life. Here are 12 often overlooked ways you might be holding yourself back, and simple ways to move forward.

1. You haven’t defined success yet

Many of us spend more time buying our coffee than reflecting on what we truly want from life. Occasionally, we might pause and think for a moment, but then quickly get pulled back into day-to-day practicalities.

Taking time to ponder your life, legacy, and what truly matters isn’t easy, but it’s one of the best investments you can make.

Make time to define what a successful life means to you and review it annually.

If you want guided help, the happy growth coach app includes a step-by-step program called ‘Set Yourself Up to Thrive.’

2. Your goals don’t reflect the real you

Have you ever worked hard for something, only to feel underwhelmed when you finally achieve it? Maybe you’re in your dream job but feel strangely flat. Or perhaps there’s a big goal that never seems to gain traction, no matter how much effort you put in.

Sometimes, the goals we chase don’t truly align with who we authentically are. They may not reflect our values or represent others’ expectations. 

Living in alignment with your values fuels purposeful action and builds resilience when life gets challenging. Misalignment, on the other hand, can lead to burnout, frustration, and disconnection.

Dedicate some time to consider:

• What are your core values?

• Which of your goals might not align with them?

• What would need to shift for your goals to represent what truly matters to you?
  

You can discover more about living authentically and why it matters here.

3. Your self-talk is sabotaging your progress

We all have stories we tell ourselves, beliefs that shape how we see who we are. Sometimes these include thoughts like, “I’m not good enough” or “I’m not the kind of person who can do that.”

Actively notice your self-talk, especially the limiting stories. Where did those beliefs come from? Do they still hold true? What evidence do you have that supports or challenges them?

Remember, you have the power to replace limiting stories with new ones that better support your path forward. Positive affirmations, spoken regularly, can help reinforce new, empowering beliefs.

4. You struggle to see your future clearly

Not being clear on what your future looks like can limit your progress. As Marian Wright Edelman said, “If you can't see it, you can't be it.”

There’s a reason top performers rely on visualisation – it works. Imagining your success can boost motivation, bring clarity, and reduce fear. Why? Because your brain responds to imagined experiences almost as if they’re real. The more you practice, the stronger your belief becomes.

Close your eyes and picture yourself after achieving your goal. Engage all five senses: What do you see, hear, and feel? What are you doing? Who’s there with you? Visit this vision regularly – it’s powerful fuel for your growth.

5. You lack the right support network

Life happens, and obstacles often get in the way. When self-doubt creeps in or challenges arise, having supportive connections around you makes all the difference. A trusted network helps you gain perspective, build resilience, and stay on track.

On the other hand, being surrounded by people who drain your energy or undermine your goals can slow, or even halt, your progress.

Focus on connecting with those who truly support you and have your best interests at heart. Think about it: Who lifts you when times get tough? Where might you have gaps in support? Who could you reach out to today?

6. You haven’t defined the path yet

If you don’t know where you’re going, it’s hard to get there. Planning can feel daunting, especially when the future feels uncertain. But as the saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”

Try this: Imagine you’ve already achieved your goals, then work backward step-by-step. Identify what needs to happen at each stage, all the way back to now.

Schedule some time to map it out. Remember, a simple plan is always better than no plan at all.

7. Your energy is divided, not directed

You’re trying to do many things and end up mastering none. In today’s fast-paced world, distractions are everywhere, and the to-do list can feel endless. Constantly switching priorities drains your focus and energy. Often, we tell ourselves we’ll reset next week or after finishing a task – yet the cycle repeats.

Get clear on what matters most to you. Allocate your time around these top priorities and learn to say no to what doesn’t align.

Having an accountability partner can help you stay on track and focused.

8. You’re not seeking feedback, or you’re not listening to it

We only “know what we know,” and everyone has blind spots. That’s why getting feedback, especially from people who’ve walked a similar path, is so valuable. It accelerates your growth and helps you adapt when needed.

You don’t have to agree with all feedback, but reflecting on it and being aware of it can still be incredibly valuable.

Make seeking feedback a regular activity, especially when things don’t go as planned. Stay open, take time to reflect, and adjust your course as you learn.

9. Wellbeing isn’t your priority

You can’t thrive if you’re running on empty. Focus, creativity, and emotional agility all depend on a healthy, energised body and mind.

Sustainable success starts with daily habits that support your wellbeing. Even something simple, like a daily walk, can lift your mood, spark ideas, and ease stress.

Make your wellbeing non-negotiable. Make time to rest, recharge, and plan your wellbeing practices into your week. These small shifts compound over time and support everything else you’re trying to achieve

Explore the dream work achieve blog for wellbeing tips you can start using today. 

10. Fear of failure and judgement holds you back

You know what you want to do, but you keep putting it off, worried about what others might think if you don’t succeed.

Whilst many of us get consumed with what others might think, research from Cornell University shows that most people spend far less time thinking about us than we imagine, and even when they do, it’s often fleeting.

So ask yourself: would you rather stay stuck or take a step toward something meaningful, even if others might judge you briefly?

Notice the fear, but don’t let it block you. Take small steps forward. And lean on your trusted support network to help you navigate any bumps along the way. 

11. You’re staying in your comfort zone

In today’s rapidly changing world, one of the most valuable skills you can build is the ability to keep learning and adapting. Growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone; it happens when you stretch beyond it.

Strengthen your curiosity (get some tips here) and regularly seek out new experiences. Not only does this fuel personal and professional growth, but it also enhances your overall wellbeing.

Try scheduling time each week to explore something unfamiliar – a new skill, a different perspective, or a fresh challenge. It’s how you evolve, one step at a time.

12. Doing is overshadowing your appreciation and joy

In the relentless pursuit to improve, achieve, and tick off the next task, it’s easy to forget to pause and appreciate how far you’ve come.

But real success isn’t just about what you accomplish, it’s also about who you’re becoming along the way. Aim to laugh often and find joy in each day.

Make it a weekly habit to reflect: What did you enjoy? What did you learn? What challenges did you face and overcome? What small wins are worth celebrating?  

Keeping a journal of your weekly reflections can be useful to track your progress over time.

Likely, some of these points will resonate with you, while others might not feel as relevant right now. And yes, when life already feels full, this can seem like just more to do.

Start small. Choose one or two areas that feel like they’ll make the biggest difference and build from there. Over time, work through the rest at your own pace and in your own way. 

Remember: success is a journey over your life, not a destination.

Ready to take your success to the next level – for yourself, your team, or your business? dream work achieve offers a range of coaching, wellbeing programs, and workshops to help you grow, thrive, and perform at your best – from self-paced support in our app to tailored coaching solutions.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!

Read more from Priscilla Hinds

Priscilla Hinds, Growth & Wellbeing Strategy Coach

Priscilla Hinds is an ICF-accredited coach specialising in personal growth, wellbeing, and mental fitness. She’s the founder of dream work achieve and brings together a lifelong passion for health and wellbeing with years of executive and leadership experience. Helping people create thriving lives and businesses comes naturally. Her mission is to inspire others to dream boldly, grow continually, learn deeply, smile often, move with purpose, and live fully as their best selves.