The Obstacle is The Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph  by Ryan Holiday

So often in my life have I been faced with challenges and struggles and things that have just taken everything out of me. At times I have felt defeated and almost come to a point of giving up. For some things I have felt I have given up.

Yet I am still here and still moving forward. I am still on a path searching for what it is I am here for. Looking for fulfilment in life, living life with passion. How to be free, happy and give back.

This book is for those times you are feeling on the edge of giving in. For times you have fallen and are struggling to get up. At times the road we journey seems changed forever, at times it just seems outright blocked.

Our struggles, challenges and hardships are what propel us forward. They are what drive us. They grow us beyond belief. They actually become the path.

By now you’ve probably heard that it is outside our comfort zone that we grow. It is in this space that real change and development occur. Why?

Why is it that something that we either fear to do or act on, something that appears so overwhelming it almost makes as stop or turn another way yet when we step up to the plate it can become our greatest ally.

You think about something that is currently stopping you from moving forward. It may be something simple like you really want to speak with that girl you see every morning at the coffee shop or something more challenging like setting up your own business and quitting your job.

Now set the challenge, what can you do to take action? First you need to make sure the story in your head is that ‘yes’ you can and than you must check your state. Make sure you are in a state that is undefeatable.

Now take action. Make a small step towards the goal. Say hello today and smile. Tomorrow do it again, and the next day. After a week you will notice it becomes almost natural like brushing your teeth. Then what’s the next step?

This is the greatest thing about obstacles; we just need to chip away at them. We need to take small positive moves in the direction we need to go. The obstacle will just build our strength and the obstacle will improve the path we take.

For those harder challenges or obstacles again just take one step forward. It might be to work 1 hour after work each day on starting the business or idea. It might mean making one new connection each week.

Enjoy each moment because life is just a bunch of moments. You will notice with the discipline to take action, however small, combined with the belief in yourself and a 100% attitude and effort in everything you do, doors will just open.

We are all faced with opportunities daily and some of us notice them more than others, this is sometimes considered luck. Luck may exist but I think its more so our ability to put ourselves in its path.

So off on my rant after being inspired by a great book but hey it’s worth a read. Its quick and easy to read and next time you feel like there is no path or you feel defeated you can pick up this book read a few pages and feel empowered. What once impeded your actions becomes the actions, the obstacle is the way.

If this book sounds of interest you can purchase The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph here.

Please leave your thoughts, comments & questions below.

Peace, passion and purpose…

Other books by Ryan Holiday