The Obstacle Is Actually The Way - Overcoming Obstacles to Uncover Opportunity
Feb 18, 2024
"The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition." - Ryan Holiday
Life can be tough, but guess what…SO ARE YOU!
You might not realize it yet, but you have the strength and resilience to overcome any obstacle that comes your way. In fact, Ryan Holiday wrote a book about this very subject and titled it "The Obstacle Is The Way.” If we retrain our mind to look as obstacles not as negative events, but as positive events, we will realize that whenever we come up against a challenge or roadblock in our lives, it is actually a chance to grow and turn our trials into triumph.
Let's take Steve Jobs as an example. He was fired from the very company he co-founded, Apple, and yet he bounced back stronger than ever before. How did he do it? He didn't let his failure define him. Instead, he used it as fuel to propel him forward.
So, how can you overcome obstacles and become just as resilient as Steve Jobs? Here are 5 tips to get you started on this mindset shift:
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Embrace failure. Yes, you read that right. EMBRACE FAILURE. Failure is not something to be ashamed of, but rather something to learn from. It's through our failures that we can grow and improve. As Ryan Holiday writes in "The Obstacle is the Way,"..."what stands in the way becomes the way." So, don't be afraid of failure. Embrace it, learn from it and leverage it.
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Stay focused on the goal. When obstacles arise, it's easy to get sidetracked and lose sight of our goals. But, it's important to remember why you started in the first place. Stay focused on your end goal and don't let the obstacles in your way distract you from achieving it.
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Be flexible. Sometimes the path to our goals isn't always straight line. There may be detours and roadblocks along the way. But, that doesn't mean we have to give up. Be flexible in your approach and willing to adjust your plan as needed. As Steve Jobs once said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future."
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Take action. When faced with an obstacle, it's easy to get overwhelmed and freeze up. But the key to overcoming obstacles is to take action. Break the obstacle down into smaller, manageable tasks and start tackling them one by one. As Holiday writes, "we don't control the obstacle, but we can control our response to it."
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Keep a positive attitude. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, maintain a positive attitude. Obstacles can be frustrating and exhausting, but a positive attitude can make all the difference. As Holiday writes, "The obstacle in the path becomes less of a barrier than a test of character. And the person who faces that obstacle, who uses it as a test of strength to strengthen themselves, will conquer it."
So, there you have it, friends! 5 tips to help you overcome obstacles and develop resilience.
Remember, failures are just opportunities to learn and grow, and obstacles are just tests of our strength and character. Stay focused on your goals, be flexible in your approach, take action, and above all, maintain a positive attitude.
And, of course, if you ever find yourself getting discouraged, just remember Steve Jobs getting fired from Apple – if he can bounce back from that, you can overcome ANYTHING, my fearless friend!
In pursuit of opportunities,
Erin