Summary

Have you ever set a goal that you were deeply passionate about—maybe a dream God placed on your heart—only to let it sit on a shelf for a decade because you were afraid you wouldn't do it perfectly? Most of us think we fail because we lack discipline or willpower, but the truth is we are usually stopped by invisible walls of perfectionism and fear. In this episode of the Arise, Women of God podcast, host Tamara K. Anderson and advisory board member Amanda Powell answer the high-stakes question: Why people fail to achieve their goals.

We move from the pain of "paralysis by analysis" to the courage of stepping into a divine mission. Amanda shares her incredible story of writing a life-changing reading curriculum, only to hide it in a drawer for seven years because she was terrified of a typo. Tamara reveals how the right mentor (just two doors down!) helped her solve a 50-year habit of nail-biting, and we discuss the "Bully Wall"—how a trauma from sixth grade can still be secretly stopping your progress today. If you are ready to identify the mental claws of the past that are holding you back, this episode will give you three life-changing questions to shift your focus from your fear to the good you can do.

Episode Takeaways

1. The Perfectionism Block: Amanda hid her curriculum for 7 years because she was afraid it wasn't "good enough." Perfectionism is just a sophisticated way for the adversary to keep your spiritual gifts hidden. God wants progress, not flawlessness.
2. The "Nail Biter" Mentor: Tamara failed to stop biting her nails for 50 years. She finally succeeded when she asked her neighbor (a nail tech) for help. Often, we fail simply because we are trying to solve a problem alone instead of asking a qualified mentor.
3. The Bully Wall: Sometimes our inability to move forward isn't about the goal; it's about who we were at 12 years old. Tamara realized her fear of podcasting stemmed from being bullied in 6th grade. You must identify and heal past trauma to unlock future progress.
4. 4 Life-Changing Questions: When fear hits, ask yourself: 1) Why do I believe I can't do this? 2) Why do others believe I can’t do this? 3) What would it mean to me if I could do this? 4) Where will my life be in 5 years if I actually achieve this? Focus on the joy of the outcome, not the anxiety of the process.

Resources

Are you ready to dismantle your "Bully Wall" and finally launch the dream you've been sitting on? Download our FREE Guide to Goal Setting. It features the "Don't Quit Emergency Kit" to help you work through the fears holding you back. 👉 Download the Guide Here: https://www.womenwarriorsoflight.com/offers/WyaLn2gS/checkout

Need accountability? Check out our Women Warriors Accountability Group for free for two weeks! https://www.womenwarriorsoflight.com/join-now

Reflection Questions

1. What is the "curriculum" or dream you have been hiding in a drawer because you are afraid it isn't perfect?
2. Are you trying to solve a "50-year problem" by yourself? Who is one mentor or expert you could ask for help this week?
3. Think about a goal you keep abandoning. Is there a "Bully Wall" from your past (a fear of judgment, rejection, or failure) that is secretly stopping you?
4. Ask yourself: Where will my life be in 5 years if I actually achieve this goal? How does that vision make you feel?

Host & Guest

Tamara K. Anderson @tamarakanderson

Amanda Powell @abundance_principles_

Transcript

https://www.womenwarriorsoflight.com/blog/why-people-fail-to-achieve-their-goals