How many of us truly enjoy having Obstacles thrown in the way of our plans? Silly question, right? Most people don’t like obstacles, which is totally natural. When you have goals that you are aiming for, the last thing you want is something in your way slowing you down. Obstacles seem to force us into stillness; and this may seem as though it is hindering our processes. We feel as though we lose the momentum we’ve created. We may feel these obstacles as ultimate roadblocks keeping us from ever accomplishing our goals.

What if obstacles don’t hold the power you believe them to? What if what you’re looking at is, in fact, an opportunity? Perhaps it’s your emotions holding you back, having you see an obstacle as an ending point, instead of an invitation, or even a fresh start.

Try to meet obstacles as a challenge. A challenge that you are more than able to rise up and meet.

If you can clear through the fog of doubt to see the opportunities, trust yourself to take the road less traveled. Here are 9 tips to help you keep a clear and balanced mind as you navigate your path toward your goals.

1. Acceptance of Obstacles (and Emotions) is Key

Try not to fight against obstacles when you find them appearing. Much like if you were to find yourself in quicksand, things will smooth out more quickly for you once you accept the situation for what it is. Any fight or struggle against it will use up your energy and weigh you down. Remind yourself that this is an organic part of the process, and ultimately healthy. Try not to pass off on your emotions either – you want to see these for what they are as well. Denying ‘what-is’ will not help you in any way shape or form. Getting real with what is within you and what is before you will soften your defenses, and you will be more open to new ideas and fresh energy. Emotions are energy in motion; they will pass.

2. Give Yourself a Mini-Break

Take a break when you find yourself up against the obstacle. Take the time to breathe, and consider your next steps before moving forward. You want to be sure that whatever you decide comes from a place of clear mind. The last thing you want is to regret any actions you may take in the heat of the moment.

Once you have taken some deep breaths (add counts to your breath if you need to; inhale for four counts, exhale for four counts), then you can tune in to your emotions. See them for what they are, and let them pass. Once you know what your emotions are, you will find it easier to get to the source of your feelings and move through them. Once you move through them, you will find and maintain your calm much quicker. Get really clear with yourself. If you are feeling anger, ask yourself if it is truly anger. Perhaps there is another emotion – or series of emotions – underlying the anger. Once you are clear, you will have a more fluid journey toward reaching your goal.

Try not to shove your feelings away or rush them. They are calling to your attention for a reason. Your emotions are a part of you, no matter how uncomfortable they may be. Embrace them as you would a small child requiring comfort and reassurance. This is embodiment practice – how do your emotions feel in your body? Move them through, write them in your journal, make sounds, shake them out. You will feel much better, and even relieved. Take the time necessary for this process for you to feel ready to move forward. Go with the flow of however long this process takes you, and you will feel a deeper peace and joy in your creations.

3. Move From the Feeling State to the Wisdom State

Once you have acknowledged and embraced the emotions surrounding your process and your goals, make the choice to let them go. It is your vision and intention driving the bus. Bring yourself back to center, and use your experiences and the wisdom born from them. Process where you are at right now, and consider your next steps. Does your plan still require the same from you, or has anything changed? Do you feel better prepared to make any necessary changes?

Observe the obstacle by stepping back and trying a new viewpoint. Does the obstacle seem as daunting now as it did initially? If not, what will you do to bring your vision to life? If so, what changes may you need to make to your planned course of action? Don’t be afraid to try something entirely new, you just may surprise yourself.

4. Blast Through Obstacles by Firing Up Your Creativity

Here’s where a little flexibility is going to go a long way. Start examining the alternatives. Be as creative as possible and don’t discount anything offhand for being ‘too silly.’ Sometimes it’s those silly ideas that are going to get you thinking along a different path entirely. Sure, it’s normal to feel some disappointment at this point. Chances are you had your path all planned out. But when you consider all the new possibilities, it’s easy to get excited about trying something new. Use this energy to fuel you toward the next step.

5. Break Things Down

Frequently our problem with obstacles starts with trying to take on too much at once. In moving forward, re-examine the goal you were trying to accomplish. How can you break down your goal into smaller steps? By focusing on these more modest goals, you’ll find it easier to move ahead. Also, you won’t be quite so overwhelmed by the big picture.

6. Embrace the Lesson

Every obstacle holds something from which you can learn. Ask yourself what you gained in facing the roadblock. How are you looking at the world differently? What can you share with those around you about your experience? When you cannot only ask these questions but also answer them, you’re discovering the meaning in the encounter. You haven’t wasted your experience, and even roadblocks can hold a purpose.

7. Reconsider the Goal

In the end, it might be the obstacle was connected to what you were trying to accomplish in the first place. It might be the goal either wasn’t well thought out or isn’t what you needed to do in the first place. It might be time to consider the original premise all over again. Is this obstacle trying to tell you something?

Sometimes the obstacle comes because you’d made a shift in what you were trying to do. Have you somehow changed your goal midstream? It might be you need to rethink your plan of attack entirely. When this happens, your obstacle has instead become an opportunity to move in a direction that suits your purposes better.

8. Admit You’re Only Human

Everyone makes mistakes. By permitting yourself to fail, you’ll accept obstacles sometimes occur due to human error. In some ways, these feel like the worst sorts  

of obstacles because it’s easy to get caught up in a negative thinking spiral when this happens. You might even start questioning your abilities and wind up wanting to give up on your goal altogether.

Here’s where it becomes crucial to keep things in perspective. By acknowledging you are only human after all, you’re able to admit when you are wrong and to move on. What’s more, you’ll be better able to accept when you make mistakes again in the future, because after all, you will. We all do.

9. Don’t Forget to Celebrate!

It might seem odd to be thinking about celebrations when talking about obstacles but consider this: When you celebrate your accomplishments, you embrace the journey you’ve been on, barriers and all. Even if you’ve stalled out completely, you can celebrate the progress you made and the work you put into the project. These are all worth getting excited about, and the emotions here are worth embracing.

Then when the party is over, ask yourself where you want to go from here. Make choosing a new goal part of the celebration. That’s also something to get excited over.

In Lieu of Embracing Fearlessness: Be Willing to Ask for Help

As a note, you should never have to do hard things alone. When you’re facing an obstacle, it’s okay to ask for help. Mentors and support systems are integral to the process of working your way through difficulties. The benefit of a mentor is clear: they’ve very likely been in this position before, and have the wisdom and insight to lead you through to the next stage of development.

Support systems are made up of those friends, co-workers, and relatives who can act as the bulwark to shore you up when you feel like you’re falling flat on your face. This group should only ever be made up of people who support you wholeheartedly. That’s not to say they’re all cheerleaders or ‘yes-men.’ A sound support system is willing to speak up when they see you heading in what they perceive to be a wrong direction. They’re also there to encourage you and to remind you why you’re working toward this goal in the first place.

Finally, don’t discount professional help where it’s needed. If you find you’re having trouble separating your emotions from the process, you might need a little bit of help in working things through. There’s nothing wrong with seeking advice from a counselor or medical professional if you find you’re overwhelmed and unable to proceed.

In the end, by embracing the obstacles you meet in trying to attain your goals, you’re likewise embracing a new way of thinking. You’re adjusting your mindset to one of success instead of failure. You’re accepting there are different ways to do things, and that the things standing in your way are more often new opportunities than a true stopping point. You’re looking at life in a way which allows you to go places you never thought possible before.

The key here is in control. Your emotions shouldn’t be what’s holding your back. Of course, it’s okay to feel what you do when you meet with an obstacle. The key is in not staying there when it’s time to move forward again because you will move forward again if you keep trying.

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