I sat down with the sales assistant and started to go through the usual rigmarole of tariffs, contracts and so on. After a short while, I started to get the sensation of feeling trapped. I was sat with this perfectly pleasant lady, but I realized that if I were to get up and run away, I would make a complete fool of myself. But I wanted to go. I needed to get out of that situation.
I broke into a sweat. My heart started racing. I felt nauseous. A voice in my head was screaming at me to get out of there. That voice was almost completely drowning out the only prevailing logical thought: “What on earth is wrong with you? You are not in any danger. Why are you panicking?”
I quickly made an excuse and left. There I was, stood outside the store, without a new iPhone. I quickly calmed down, but I was both mentally and physically exhausted. My body had just experienced a completely unexpected and bizarre trauma.
That Was Just The Beginning
Over the next few months, I started having panic attacks on a regular basis. They typically came about in situations where leaving would be considered unusual. Trips to the cinema, dates, meals, bars…I once walked past my barbers three times in a row without being able to push myself over the threshold. Getting my hair cut was the ultimate fear – I could hardly leap out of the chair and run off with a half-cocked haircut, could I? Don’t worry, I look back and laugh at that too now.
After some time, it became clear to me that the panic attacks were having a huge effect on my quality of life. I came to a realization – I would either have to tackle the issue head on, or simply lay down and accept that this was how my life would be. To me, that seemed like an unthinkable outcome.
Do Not Accept Failure
And that is the best possible attitude you can have when it comes to success. Put yourself in a position where there is no alternative. Understand why it is that you can’t live without the success that you need to achieve. If your desire to succeed is great enough, you will have all the motivation you need.
I’ve personally taken this to an extreme, by quitting my job. That may not be for you, but it sure as hell puts you in a situation where success is necessary, not desired.
If you approach your business like failure is not an option, you will be blessed with enormous willpower. Every time you find yourself discouraged by short term issues, you will just need to reference the status quo to provide yourself with the motivation to push on.
The Importance Of Mindset
So consider your mindset. Have you found the reason why you crave success so much that you cannot possibly consider failure? If you cannot find that, then perhaps you do not want it enough. Having said that, I truly believe that everyone can find it in themselves to create a mindset whereby success is the only possible way forward.
In a sense, overcoming my panic attacks was easy. Although it required an enormous amount of willpower and no small measure of mental exertion, I was determined to overcome it, as there was no other feasible option.
Find out why you can only accept one possible outcome, and use it to fuel everything that you do.
So what drives you? What makes success a necessity for you, rather than an aim? Let me know in the comments section below!
Photo courtesy of kaiki01