The Obstacle Is The Way

by Ryan Holiday

T INTRODUCTION his thing in front of you. This issue. This obstacle—this frustrating, unfortunate, problematic, unexpected problem preventing you from doing what you want to do. That thing you dread or secretly hope will never happen. What if it wasn’t so bad? What if embedded inside it or inherent in it were certain benefits— benefits only for you? What would you do? What do you think most people would do? Probably what they’ve always done, and what you are doing right now: nothing. Let’s be honest: Most of us are paralyzed. Whatever our individual goals, most of us sit frozen before the many obstacles that lie ahead of us.