No one likes obstacles, hardships, failures, mistakes, etc. How often in life has a mistake or failure been your greatest teacher? It has been a constant source of learning for me. On your path to your own greatness you will no doubt experience obstacles. These obstacles can take many forms from lack of finances, to no experience, to too many constraints, etc. The list can go on and on.
What can one do about it? Proceed through or around the obstacle. The big idea here is that obstacles will show up and you have a choice, you can work through it or let it stop you in your tracks. You have to ask yourself, what am I willing to do, to risk, to sacrifice to get beyond the obstacle? Are you in or out on your goal or desire?
This may seem easier said than done and I whole heartedly agree. At times, these obstacles can seem insurmountable. The truth is it is only an illusion. A way around the obstacle exists, a solution is always available. Are you open to seeing it?
Again, and again, much of what you want in life comes back to desire. How bad do you want this? The desire is fuel to get you through your obstacle. That is why in goal setting, it is best to pick a goal you really want because you will have the desire to move you past the challenges that inevitable come up.
One of my mentors, Marshall Thurber, will often ask the audience is his lectures, “Who’s life here has gone exactly as planned?”. No hands ever raise, why, well you know why, life doesn’t go as planned. We live in a trial and error universe. A big part of personal development is understanding that obstacles are part of the process. It may hurt to hear this; it is still true. Your growth lies beyond the obstacle. It is true, the obstacles make us better. We have to tap into something greater inside of us to get past these challenges.
If you look at any great movie, it is always the hero’s journey that is the center of the story. It is all the obstacles they had to get through that keeps you on the edge of your seat. You are the hero in your own life’s movie, why not have a few obstacles and make it interesting. One thing that comes to mind is that there is no neutral. We are either moving forward or moving backwards. Life in and of itself is forward moving. Strive to move forward, it what you are meant to do.
How to move past obstacles? Great question! The first step is realizing that obstacles are part of the challenge of life. You need to accept the obstacle. You cannot get by the obstacle by being resistant to it. That only delays you, and possibly stops you if you let it. You need to be open to what is in front of you. It is not always easy. Acceptance is higher plane of consciousness than resistance. Once you accept the obstacle, you can start to work your way through it.
The next step is decision. You need to commit to getting through it. You have to decide that the obstacle is not going to stop you. This may sound unnecessary; it is vitally important. The bigger the obstacle, the bigger the piece of you that needs to step forward. This won’t happen by accident, this is a conscious decision to move forward. The power is in taking ownership of the situation. You are responsible for your growth, your results, your outcomes. There is power in the pursuit. Make a decision and go for it.
The next step is getting in motion and taking action towards the obstacle. I like what Joe De Sena says about it “The way to get through anything mentally painful is to take it a little at a time. The mind can’t handle dealing with a massive iceberg of pain in front of it, but it can deal with short nuggets that will come to an end. So instead of thinking, Ugh, I’ve got twenty- four miles to go, focus on making it to the next telephone pole in the distance. Whether you’re running twenty or one hundred and twenty miles at a time, the distance has to be tackled mentally and physically one mile at a time. The ability to compartmentalize pain into these small bite sizes is key.”
Taking bite size pieces is a way to get going and not overwhelm yourself. If you work at it, the obstacle must give way. The more you go at it; the more aid will come to your side. You can find plenty of stories of people who refused to lose, do the same, refuse to lose!
Always remember, this is a trial and error universe. No one has it all figured out despite appearances. You don’t have to have it all figured out; you just need to understand that obstacles are part of the process of a greater you. They make us better not hinder us. We must be willing to face them and get through them. And as we get though we grow. And through all of this we become better and can share our wisdom with others, ultimately, making this world a better place.
