Did you ever consider that your wildest thoughts could become true? Did you allow them to shape out of your mind and take form into reality? If you have, you know how exhilarating it can be to live one’s dreams. If you have not, you may want to step back and observe yourself.

It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.” Sommerset Maugham

Here are 4 blockers which keep you away from letting your dreams take form and come into life:

The macro-environment we grew up with: I was born in Tehran in 1978, and survived a national revolution: chaos, violence and fear tore the country between those fighting for democracy and freedom and those creeping to seize power. That was a considerably different picture than a decade earlier when Armstrong landed on the moon and all seemed possible. I didn’t grow up thinking all was possible but I certainly learned that life wins over anything and that as long as you stand, you can win.

The education system where are brought in: I was raised in France and from an early age we are taught to bring in judgment and self-criticism upon ourselves. I learned to look at what was still to be achieved rather than celebrating progress and milestones. This is considerably different from the Anglo-Saxon approach of congratulating every child’s step, even non-outstanding ones. For a long time, as a result, I would only focus on what needs to be improved. It’s only with self-analysis and indulgence that I learned to celebrate effort rather than results.

The pressure we put on ourselves to fit in the mass: It is not really well seen to be an original; social success in every society is framed. The need to belong and be accepted supersedes individuality: your material belongings and the brands you display, the places you go to and can share on Facebook, the position you hold in your profession…This pressure keeps us stereotyped and away from our true individual nature.

The fear to fail: how easier it is to stay within a secure frame of reference; not to move an inch outside the comfort zone. No risk but no pain either. And day in day out, we chose almost unconsciously to lead stable, conventional, risk-free boring lives.

We don’t allow ourselves to dream, let alone dream big. But these are merely excuses and with self-observation and decision to take our lives into our own hands, we can overcome our fears and give rise to our genius.

What other blockers have YOU experienced? Please share them here and let us learn to spot the excuses which keep us away from our greatest expression!