“What stands in the way becomes the way”

It’s easy to get excited about the prospect of a new job, making more money, or pursuing a long time goal. Our veins get filled with motivation and we share our enthusiasm with family and friends.

It’s only when we reach our first obstacle or two that reality smacks us in the face and an important decision has to be made. Give up or move forward. 

Unfortunately, most people choose the former. 

Facing adversity isn’t easy and it’s certainly not something learned in school. It’s viewed from a place of fear and spoiled with a sense of impending failure. 

But in order to achieve, find fulfillment and discover our own potential we must deal with it head on. 

In Meditations, written by the ancient Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, he says:

“Our actions may be impeded…but there can be no impeding our intentions or dispositions. Because we can accommodate and adapt. The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

If we choose to look at bumps in the road more as building blocks that will enable us to take one step further towards our aspirations, the thoughts of failure and feelings of fear will start to weaken. 

With each obstruction thrown at us, we’ll begin to hurdle over them in stride and recognize just how much wisdom and value these impediments actually provide. 

Over time we’ll learn the esoteric secret to success… what stands in the way becomes the way. 

Once this is actualized the human mind’s capabilities are limitless. 

And even more so, through these hardships we’ll gain a refreshing outlook on life and a newfound appreciation for how far we’ve come.