Lack and Limitation

“Argue for your limitations and they are yours.”
– Richard Bach

“There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.”
–Napoleon Hill

Throughout my career, I’ve met people who are truly congruent and lived life to the fullest. They always seemed to get what they require or desire. They are happy with who they are, what they have, and what they do. They have high levels of self-esteem and are the kinds of people I would certainly classify as the truly successful.

Now, the question is: “Did they have a high self-esteem after they’ve reached their goals or did they reach their goals because they have a high self-esteem in the first place?” Think about it.

On the other hand, I’ve met many others for who this was not so. They constantly live in the future. They always seem to be searching. They always seem to be striving and never arriving. They are never satisfied with their situations or themselves. They may reach a goal or two and feel a moment of exhilaration, but then they quickly feel unchallenged and need to go for more.

For instance, in cosmetic surgery when a patient’s self-image is poor, there is no cosmetic enhancement in the world that can be done to that person that will change his feelings about himself. If he did have surgery, he’ll look at himself in the mirror and say, “You know, doc, I still feel ugly.”

So, what causes lack and limitation? The commonest if not the single underlying source of all lack and limitation is this thing called a low self-esteem. I also believe that fears and doubts are the mascots of a poor self-esteem. They close the channels through which your greatness can materialize, prohibit your successfulness to manifest, and place unnecessary limits on your potential.

On the other hand, the surest way to eradicate lack and limitation is to achieve inner peace. And the inevitable consequence of attaining inner peacefulness is the increase in your self-esteem. Through a knowing that you are worth much more than you think, you will bring about all that you desire.

Now, you might find this a bit strange because you probably thought to this point that trying to fill those lacks and to work within (or trying to remove) those limitations are the keys to success, such as reaching goals, getting as much done as possible, seeking outside stimulus, etc. This is not true. Doing so only deals with the symptoms and not the source of the problem.

Instead, you should make peace of mind the greatest goal in your life for it is the absence of all fear and, of course, guilt. Peace of mind increases self-esteem that opens the connection, because a low self-esteem is the greatest manufacturer of all these negative limitations. By choosing peace of mind as your highest goal in all your endeavors, you are enhancing your self-esteem let alone your success.

If you have a low self-esteem, you are, like Jesus for example, crucified between two thieves. One is called “yesterday” (i.e., guilt) and the other one is called “tomorrow” (i.e., fear). They are indeed thieves because they are both robbing not only your ability to realize your potential but also (and most important) your present moments.

People who constantly live in the past or in the future (or both) are, day after day after day, wasting that precious enjoyment of life. They’re the ones who usually wake up at some later point and realize that it’s all too late.

Whether you are religious, a spiritually-oriented person, or a student of truth, it doesn’t matter. I know that you have within you a conscience, a deep set of values by which you live your life. Science has proven that having a set of guiding principles is not only reserved for theologians or scholars but a natural and instinctual component of every Homo Sapien on this planet.

Incidentally, “Homo” is a Latin word which stands for mammal, and “Sapien” comes from the word “sapience” (i.e., conscience, wisdom, intelligence, etc.). Because you’re a “conscious mammal” (or, in other words, a human being), you have within you an inner voice and the ability to follow it.

What it all boils down to is that by adhering to a system of clearly defined personal values, in other words by working on your priorities, you will have a clear conscience and a clear purpose, and you will increase your true potential by removing the limitations fears have created.

Simply put, you can create a harmonious relationship with yourself, between what you do and what you value, in order to achieve all that you truly desire without fear or guilt. You will make the connection and everything that you need or want will flow to you as a result.