"Put blinders on to those things that conspire to hold you back, especially the ones in your own head."

Let's break it down together. The essence of this quote is about focusing on what truly matters and blocking out distractions, particularly the negative thoughts that can sabotage our success. Imagine you're a horse in a race — horses wear blinders to keep them from getting distracted by the crowd and other horses. We need to do the same with our goals.

Historically, this advice has been vital in many tough situations. Think of all the great inventors and leaders. They had to ignore the naysayers and their own doubts to achieve something remarkable. Take Thomas Edison, for example. He failed thousands of times while inventing the light bulb. If he let those failures stop him or listened to the critics saying it couldn't be done, we'd still be in the dark (literally).

Now, let's bring this idea into a more relatable setting. Think about a student aiming to get into a top university. There are a million distractions — social media, parties, the fear of not being good enough. But if this student can "put blinders on," focusing on studying and personal growth, the probability of success skyrockets. It's not about ignoring reality but rather about giving your passions and goals the attention they deserve.

So how can you apply this wisdom? Start by identifying what’s holding you back. Is it fear? Lack of confidence? Maybe the opinions of others? Once you recognize these obstacles, practice blocking them out. You might use techniques like mindfulness to stay focused or set specific times to work on your goals without interruption. Visualization can also help — imagine yourself achieving your goal and let that vision fuel your efforts.

Picture this: Sarah, an aspiring writer, dreams of publishing a novel. She’s got a full-time job, a family, and a nagging voice inside her head saying she’s not good enough. Every time she sits down to write, that voice whispers, “What if no one likes it? You’ll never finish.” So, what does she do? She sets up a small, quiet writing nook at home, dedicating an hour every morning to write. She tells herself, “For this hour, I’m a writer. Nothing else matters.” That’s her putting on blinders.

By doing this consistently, Sarah finishes her novel. She then moves on to editing and, finally, sending it to publishers. Sure, she gets some rejections, but she doesn’t let that stop her. She keeps her blinders on, ignoring the doubts and focusing on her goal. Eventually, her novel gets published, and it’s a hit. All because she refused to let her own thoughts and external distractions derail her.

By putting blinders on to the things that conspire to hold you back, especially those nagging doubts in your own head, you give yourself the best shot at success. It’s about recognizing that while we can’t control everything around us, we can control where we direct our focus and energy. So next time you feel doubt creeping in, remember Sarah’s story, and keep your eyes on the prize. Keep those blinders on, and charge ahead.