Elevate

The Real Deal With Barriers

By Eabat on Jan 08, 2012

I've been thinking about why some people reach their goals with flying colours and others find it challenging to even get started. A quick story: I was over at my parents for dinner one evening when I had asked my mom to pack me a little doggy bag of home cooking. Delightfully, she agreed and fixed me what seemed to be a Tetris maze of Tupper ware in an extra large lulu lemon bag (thanks mommy). When I get home I throw the bag in the fridge.

 

The next day, when I get home from work starving I open the fridge and there's the Tupperware. Inexplicably, I shut the fridge walk 2 paces to the pantry and grab a bag of chocolate covered almonds. It was at that moment that I realized I am a "lazy ass MF". My exact thought process was, awwww maaan, I have to

 

1. Dig through the bag

2. Figure out which Tupperware I need

3. Empty the contents on to a plate

4. Throw it in the microwave

5.Hit the buttons to nuke it

6.Take it out of the microwave

7. Discover that it's not warm enough

8.Put it back in the microwave repeat steps 4 to 6

 

 By now,  I've over nuked it and end up throwing it out (sorry mom). You're probably wondering what the hell is this guy talking about is he crazy.

Back to my original point which was what separates individuals who reach their goals and those who don't is their tenacity to remove "barriers".

Well, duh Eldridge any weenie with half a sense could have told you that. It's a little more complicated than the obvious. Let me explain.

In sport psychology there are 2 kinds of barriers (I hate theory but this blog wouldn't work without it) Active Barriers which are the physical barriers that we encounter (i.e. Tupperware, negative people at work or an opponent across the octagon ready to make you tap out etc...)

 These barriers prevent you from being productive but are generally manageable. You simply get rid of them.

 

Passive Barriers are invisible barriers that we encounter. These are more trivial and abstract. Like the entire battle in my head of being outdone by Tupperware. I'm sure if moms had prepared each entree on her best china (potatoes not touching the peas) saran wrapped and ready to be nuked when I get home, I would have voraciously enjoyed a hearty meal. The biggest point is that having barriers prevents us from making sound choices and being productive. Now you can use barriers in your favour to promote better habits for example if you watch too much TV throw out the remote control, if you drink too much soda don't buy it at the grocery store it's definitely not rocket science once they are brought to the forefront of conscious thought. But, they do have to be first noticed for them to be managed.

 

Above were just personal examples from a quite seemingly arbitrary experience. If somehow you've connected with this whole idea of barriers I'd be thrilled to hear about some of yours.

 

Please comment!

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