Subconscious Blocks to Success: How to Identify and Remove Them

You’re doing the work. You’re setting SMARTER goals. You’re seemingly doing everything right, but you still feel stuck. It’s like you’re on a treadmill and the rest of the world is running full speed ahead. You’re exhausted, frustrated, and don’t understand why.

But what if the real barrier isn’t what you’re doing on the surface, but what’s hiding beneath — sneaky success blocks buried deep in your subconscious mind?

So, if you’re ready to finally quit feeling stuck and make a quantum leap, it starts with discovering and dissolving these invisible obstacles. Here’s how to begin.

The 5 Most Common Success Blocks

Five fairly common success-related mindset blocks may be causing you to self-sabotage: the imposter block, the worthiness block, the safety block, the loyalty block, and the identity block.

The imposter block is like imposter syndrome’s quieter, sneakier sibling. Perhaps you would never consciously admit that you feel like an imposter, but your subconscious feels that you don’t truly belong. This doubt can make you shy away from attention or avoid praise because you feel undeserving.

The worthiness block operates in a similar fashion. It whispers that success, recognition, or opportunities aren’t meant for you, despite the evidence of your success. This belief stops you from pursuing what you truly deserve and delays your career growth.

The safety block falsely reassures you that the safest thing to do is stay where you are. It tells you that there’s no need to take risks and to keep your head down. This block tends to flourish in environments where psychological safety is absent, but can appear at any time.

The loyalty block encourages attachment to outdated people, teams, or situations. This block is presented as a magnanimous quality—who would admit that loyalty has slowed them down? Unfortunately, self-sacrifice only stifles development and creates missed opportunities.

Lastly, there’s the identity block. This creates uncertainty about your core values and direction. You might avoid decisions because you’re unsure what truly matters to you, making every choice feel wrong.

Your Success Block Assessment

Ready to identify which block is holding you back? Here’s a simple exercise: look at your recent missed opportunities and see what patterns show up.

Start by listing your last three missed chances. Then, explore what triggered your actions. These signals can be subtle, so take time to think about what was happening around those moments.

For example, maybe you were invited to speak at a big industry event. At first, you felt excited about being on that stage. But then doubts started to creep in. What if you weren’t ready? What if you failed in front of everyone? Suddenly, filling out the required paperwork seemed overwhelming. You kept putting it off until you missed the deadline. That’s a classic imposter block.

Or maybe you considered applying for a career retreat to learn and grow. But when the dates conflicted with a major project your team was working on, you felt you needed to support them, even though you could have just delegated. So, you never applied. That’s loyalty block at work.

Block–Specific Removal Techniques

Once you’ve identified specific blocks, you can start removing them little by little by replacing them with the truth.

If you’re dealing with the imposter or worthiness block, rely on the hard evidence of your wins. Let your accomplishments remind your subconscious that you belong and are capable.

For the safety block, begin by taking small, calculated risks. Each success shows your subconscious mind that stepping outside your comfort zone is safe and necessary for growth.

When it comes to the loyalty block, examine where your loyalties lie. Remember, you don’t have to sacrifice your own success for others to succeed. You can thrive personally while your team or relationships also flourish.

Finally, if the identity block feels like your biggest hurdle, take time to reflect on your values, behaviors, and aspirations. Define who you are now and who you want to become, so your decisions are based on a clear sense of self rather than uncertainty.

Implementation Timeline and Tracking

Over the next 30 days, focus on these blocks and keep track of your progress. If you hit a setback, don’t worry. This is normal. Overcoming these hidden barriers takes time, patience, and steady work. It won’t happen overnight.

The Bottom Line

Subconscious blocks aren’t personal flaws. They’re old protection mechanisms that no longer help you, but continue to hold you back. When you identify and break them down, you aren’t just changing habits; you’re upgrading your internal operating system.

Ready to break free and achieve the success you deserve? Book your complimentary call with an Arootah Coach today to get started!