The Impediment To Action Advances Action

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.

Marcus Aurelius

This is a quote by Marcus Aurelius from his book Meditations that I have written down on the first page of my daily journal.

Whenever I encounter obstacles and challenges that seem insurmountable (being in an entrepreneurial job where the buck stops with me, I encounter these situations every other day !!), I take inspiration from this quote.

I see obstacles not as roadblocks but as opportunities to practice virtues like patience, courage, humility, resourcefulness, reason, justice, and creativity. While having the right attitude is essential for tackling challenges, we need to take care of three other factors to overcome obstacles effectively. 

Having The Right Outlook

Our outlook shapes how we interpret events. How we perceive the circumstances and the meaning we derive from them makes all the difference. Our perceptions can be a source of strength or weakness. We only add to our troubles if we are emotional, subjective, and short-sighted. Maintaining calm in the face of challenges ensures that we can see things as they are without getting muddled in our heads. 

Taking The Right Action

Taking some action may seem easy, but it is not. Think about some of the obstacles and challenges we may face. More often than not, we get stuck in inaction, trying to figure out what to do. We confuse intention with action. Overcoming obstacles requires us to act with deliberation, boldness, and persistence- attributes of right and effective action. Without directed action, overcoming obstacles is not possible. 

Operating With Faith

Faith is what we have when everything else seems like a dead end. It is that internal reserve of power that can never be affected by the outside world. Even when facing situations that seem unchangeable and undeniably negative, our faith helps us surrender to the challenges with grace and humility, knowing that “this too shall pass.”

Bottomline: Our challenges and obstacles are catalysts for growth. They are transformative experiences that make us better, provided we show up with the right outlook and take the right actions while operating with faith.