How Do Smart People Lose Their Way?

Do you make smart choices? Here are 15 factors that can steer you off course — use them as guideposts as you map your journey through life:

Bombard yourself with self-defeating thoughts. Some folks put themselves down and discourage themselves from pursuing their dreams.

Lose touch with reality. Some people live behind closed doors, build walls around themselves, and listen exclusively to like-minded people. That said, you’ll never know if your ideas are sound until they are challenged.

Try too hard to please others. When you constantly seek approval, you give more weight to other people’s opinions than to your own.

Lose sight of what matters. Some people get so caught up in the nitty-gritty that they lose sight of the big picture. Make your priorities a priority.

Fail to make tough choices. Some folks are so afraid of making important decisions, they take the path of least resistance — and do nothing.

Surround yourself with toxic people. A lot has been said about the impact that toxic waste has on the environment. Consider the impact that toxic people have on your life.

Follow the bandwagon — right off the cliff. Even though a group provides comfort and security, their reasoning may be deeply flawed. Be smart. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t let others convince you otherwise.

Allow fear to stop you. Some people are so afraid of failing that they don’t try…and fail. As the adage says, “It’s not the things you do in life that you regret, it’s the things you don’t do.”

Demand instant gratification. Never risk the things that’ll matter most to you one day because you feel the urge to satisfy yourself today.

Become consumed by one area of your life. Some people focus so intensely on one area of their life, that they allow other areas to wither. Having said that, make a life while making a living.

Get discouraged by temporary setbacks. Most people fail before achieving success; the difference is that successful people never stop trying. As Morgan Freeman, the actor, said, “The best way to guarantee a loss is to quit.”

Fail to leave the past behind. Dwelling on mistakes or past defeats is incredibly unproductive. Learn from the experience and move on.

Let your emotions control you. Some folks spend so much time harboring bitterness, resentment, and anger that it consumes every moment of their day.

Lack a moral compass. You’re going to be tested throughout your life. You may be tempted to cheat to make yourself look good, stretch the truth to cover your behind, or do something unethical to get what you want. (Ugh!) Former Senator Alan Simpson said it well, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”

Think you’re too busy to think. Some people are so busy dealing with urgent matters that they fail to address the important ones. Take time to consider if your life is on track or if you’re heading off course.