In our quest to become the best possible version of ourselves, we must always be open to change. But it is not always easy. In fact, it is downright tough. Along the way, we encounter mental hurdles that we need to overcome.

Take, for example, your job. Over the years, you have developed a routine from the time you wake up until you turn in for bed. Subconsciously, when your routine is interrupted, you become irritated throughout the day.

It is not to say that routines are not crucial to your personal growth goals. They are. They help us gain more control over what we do, as well as manage our time. A routine is probably what prevents you from losing your mind. After all, life can get crazy sometimes.

But routines do provide us with that comfort zone, which is very challenging to get away from. The only way to learn is to get out of our comfort zone to do something new, and that can be scary. Here are some of the mental hurdles you need to overcome so you can achieve your personal growth goals:

1. Pessimistic outlook

You can never underestimate the power of positive thinking. It can change your life for the better. It is more of an attitude than a thought process. You develop the mindset to highlight the positive aspects of your life, rather than dwell on the negative. You overcome mental hurdles when instead of seeing risks, you see opportunities. Instead of failures, you recognize them as lessons to be learned.

2. Defeatist attitude

With this type of outlook, you are inclined to come up with all possible reasons against change. You think that an activity is not worth pursuing because you are going to fail anyway. And when it does, you validate your negative attitude. It is also called a “loser’s attitude.” You give up the fight even before you start it.

3. Pride

Pride can also be positive, such as when you feel a sense of accomplishment in one’s action or choice. However, pride typically carries a negative connotation, and it refers to the irrational sense of personal value to the detriment of everything else. Proud people are not likely to accept criticism gracefully, even if it is constructive.

They think they have all the answers, and their way is the only option. They also have a disdain for anybody whom they believe do not match their unreasonable intellectual or moral criteria. Pride is almost always associated with hubris.

4. Lack of accountability

When you have no personal responsibility, you always blame others for your mistakes. It is the quickest way to lose the trust and concern of your teammates, colleagues, and even loved ones. Also, if you do not own up to your mistakes, there is no chance that you will work to correct them. Evolution only comes with change. It is impossible to do when you are stuck in the same place.

You might have heard of the adage, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But science tells us it is wrong. You can change the neurons in your brain to form new knowledge. The technical term is neuroplasticity. It is the same principle that explains our habits. When we do specific actions for a long time, they develop into habits. And when we settle into these habits, they become almost impossible to break.