The outcome of most things that you do in life is often influenced by your mindset and how that makes you interact with the world. Oftentimes it is an involuntary action of yours based on an overlooked influencer: negativity. It implants road blocks to your thought processes. Negativity is the single biggest hindrance to problem solving. Many smart, successful people push on by forcefully distancing themselves from negativity. Here are four things that could be secretly blocking you from moving forward.

They say

This brings us to what other people think. People have opinions. And often these carve the times into what they are. But the truth is successful people take other people's opinions with a grain of salt. For more than a year I'd been told that an automotive publication cannot run profitably in a major Bangladeshi daily. That it is possibly one of the worst ideas I could have. If I listened to all of them, I would not have started it. It ended up bringing in new readers and business to the organisation.

You're too old/young    

 My father recently decided to get another Masters degree because he felt he could. It also helps him widen his reach for his students at the college he teaches in. That too at 60. Someone somewhere will advise that you are too young or too old to do a certain thing. Age has nothing to do with success where your body and/or mind is aligned with the task you want to complete. In 1984, at age 70, to mark his 70th birthday, legendary bodybuilder Jack LaLanne swam and towed 70 rowboats in Long Beach Harbour California.

Past

The past has a strong hold over us because it is a record of things that didn't work or couldn't be done. Like age and the people talking, this often holds us back. You can't let it shape your actions and beliefs. The past can only offer guidance on how to avoid certain mistakes. You treat it as a learning tool to improve upon.

Toxic nation

We're back to people again. Avoid the group that talks of failure, pulls down others for their flaws and thrives on the sad facets of life. You're as good as the people you are surrounded by. If the people you work with or hang out with can't have a positive mental attitude, they will bring you down. How do you feel after you've had a session of complaints with a group of friends/co-workers? You never come out of it feeling recharged. Negativity drains. Successful people distance themselves from others that spew negativity. You are allowed give vent of how your boss doesn't pay you much but then that same boss also allows you full freedom with your work. Focus on the latter.

Your mindset is your determinant for success. All your 'doables' are solely dependent on that and not on random whispers in the air.

Writer is Editor of the career, tech and automobile publications of The Daily Star. He is also an entrepreneur of a baby clothing business and previously worked in advertising as a Senior Copywriter