“Turn what’s in the way into the way.” Ryan Holiday
Remember the old saying, “When you pick up one end of the stick, you pick up the other”? It turns out that this saying applies to all aspects of what we are trying to be and accomplish in life. If you’re trying to do great things, you also pick up great obstacles.
Are you OK with this idea? If you’re not, you will be blindsided by the obstacles that come your way. You will quit pursuing excellence in the face of excellent barriers.
I am a BIG believer in the idea that there must be opposition in all things. The overcoming of this opposition is what makes the accomplishment great and what makes the story interesting. The story of David and Goliath would hardly be awe-inspiring had Goliath walked out and squished David like a little bug.
We cheer for the underdogs because of their obstacles. We celebrate their victories because of what they overcame to win. When a team sets out to have a Cinderella season, they know they will be facing teams better than them. That’s the very definition of embracing obstacles.
Finding a Path with Obstacles
“If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” Frank A. Clark
Take a minute to look at the obstacles on your path right now. How do they rate? Are they small, medium, large, or super-sized? Maybe they’re non-existent. I can guarantee that your ultimate destination and the meaning you find there are in large measure determined by the size of the obstacles you conquered to get there.
If you just assessed the magnitude of your obstacles and you found them to be molehills, maybe it IS time to make mountains out of those molehills. If you’re an employee, maybe you need to ask for a new project or additional responsibilities. If you’re a leader, maybe what you’re pursuing isn’t grand enough. If you’re an entrepreneur, maybe the difference you are trying to make is too small.
Why do we spend so much time trying to make our trials smaller? When we do this, we minimize the influence and impact we can have. Maybe we need to start thinking about how we can make our trials bigger.
That’s Scary Stuff
Of course it’s counter-intuitive to ask for increased challenges. It flies in the face of our desire for safety and comfort. When you’ve established a routine that effectively shrinks any obstacles into meaningless hogwash, it’s time to find new ways to engage.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Christopher Reeves
Now, I would change “in spite of” to “because of”, but I think the meaning is clear. Heroes do scary stuff. Often they do it because it’s scary. Perseverance and endurance appear only because of obstacles. It’s nonsensical to say that I endured through the easy times in my life.
It’s time to change the way we approach obstacles.
The Reframe
“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me…You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” Walt Disney
I’m asking you to realize it now. Ask yourself, how can this kick in the teeth be the best thing in the world for me? How is this obstacle the best thing to ever happen to me? What can I see as positive possible outcomes? Once I go through (or around or over or under) this obstacle, what do I suppose I will have learned?
I want you to see the benefits of the obstacle BEFORE you’ve vanquish it. The benefits are going to be outcomes you want.
Here’s the thing, if you want to pick up the benefits, you have pick up the obstacles with them. And that’s the lesson here.
I know you WANT to create AND do AWESOME things. Because of this desire, you have to WANT the AWESOME obstacles too.
We Need Others to Overcome
A final word before I conclude. Even after we’ve turned our approach to obstacles on its head, obstacles will come into our lives that are so extreme that we can’t handle them on our own. We can still embrace them and look for the benefits, but to beat these types of obstacles we’ll need others by our side.
We need others to be at interdependence with us. We need people who have visions that align with our own. We need people who recognize our innate abilities and contributions. We need people who have different abilities to overcome challenges. We need different perspectives.
So never be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help.
Final Word
There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, “Give me this mountain,” give me these challenges. Spencer W. Kimball
Obstacles are a part of our story. You must be willing to say, “Give me this mountain.” Embrace your challenges. Take obstacles as an opportunity to ignite your strengths and talents. Use obstacles as a chance to create good habits, to strengthen your mindset, to cement your why, and to surround yourself with the right people.
The size of the obstacles in your life are a good indication of the path that you’re on. Strong stories come with strong obstacles.