Some people just can’t seem to get a break.
It’s one thing after the next for them – money problems, a run of bad luck, or work trouble. 
There’s a lot in life we don’t have complete control over.
Whether we get sick, for example, or whether our footy team wins!
But there is a lot we can control and that’s why I’ve never been a big fan of pitying people.
Not that I don’t have compassion for those doing it tough, but there’s a big difference between empathy and pity.
Pity is not an emotion I waste time on because I believe that everyone, given the right information and in the right mindset, can make a real success of their life.
And yet some people shoot themselves in the foot and hold themselves back instead of pushing themselves forward.
They fail to strike when the iron is hot or grab at the opportunities that come before them.
Many times it’s not their own fault, of course.
They may never have been taught how to embrace the good that comes their way.
Here are some tips to ensure you’re not holding yourself back:
1. Build your confidence
People are often held back by their own lack of self-belief.
They may have a secret desire to start their own company or write a novel, but they put it off for “one day”.
As we all know that day rarely comes.
Their procrastination only serves to distract them from their lack of belief in themself.
But you can decide to be different, to acknowledge your self doubt and push ahead regardless.
2. Don’t wait to be discovered
Sometimes we think that it’s only a matter of time before our talent is discovered. 
The truth is that it takes more than just talent.
In fact, when it comes to success, natural-born talent is probably less important than resilience, hard work and social skills.
And putting yourself out there is a talent all of its own.
No one is going to know how good you are unless you get out there and display your talents
Don’t worry about looking like a show-off either, as it’s important to promote yourself these days.
Just take a look at social media!
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As the old real estate adage goes: you can’t sell a secret.
3. Take time to reflect
We all make mistakes, but if we don’t take the time to reflect about what we have learned, where we went wrong and what we could do differently next time, then we’re doomed to repeat them.
We’ll start to see our repeated mistakes as “fate” or “bad luck” when they’re really the result of not taking stock and learning.
So take some time to mull over major life events and decisions.
Look for patterns of behaviour that worked and those that didn’t.
And most importantly: be kind to yourself.
We’re only human.
4. Fess up
Sometimes it’s easier to blame others for the things that go wrong in our life. 
I’m sure a few of us know people who would rather point the finger than look inside themselves.
But adults take responsibility.
They fess up when they’ve messed up, and guess what?
When you do this, you win the respect of others.
In my experience, people don’t mind errors if you admit to them and take responsibility.
It’s character building, too.
5. Turn your weakness into strengths
We’ve all heard the saying that we need to turn our weaknesses into strengths.
But what does that actually mean?
At its core it means turning what makes you special or exceptional — something you may not have seen as an advantage previously — and making it work for you. 
Let me give you an example:
Maybe you’re a big picture person who is not great on detail.
Turn this big picture focus into a large component of your business, make sure you’re using it to your advantage, and then hire someone to help with the detailed tasks.
It’s basic stuff, but it can make all the difference.
The bottom line is that we’ve all been guilty on occasion of holding ourselves back, but once we realise we’re doing it — and there are positive steps we can take to rectify it — then nothing can stop us.
It’s onwards and upwards!
