Obstacles can prevent you from getting to where you want to be in life. What gets in the way of being who you want to be?
A person can have all sorts of goals in life, and as a result, there are many obstacles that can get in the way of those goals. While some are physical — road construction on your commute comes to mind — mostly they are mental obstacles. Recognizing the types of things you need to overcome can help you do so more quickly.
Broadly speaking, they fall into two categories, external and internal.
Examples of external obstacles might be some sort of time constraint, or limited resources. Someone might be working against you, knowingly or not.
A resource constraint of some kind can actually be a benefit under some circumstances. It can force you to be creative, which can pay off in all sorts of ways. And if you are limited in one resource, you can figure out which resources are more available to you. Leaning in to those strengths can help a lot.
Internal obstacles can be more difficult to identify and to deal with. They could involve deep introspection, understanding what you do and why you do it. This is uncomfortable for some people, and it may require therapy to unpack past experiences and trauma.
As you get more experienced with overcoming obstacles, you may start to be able to predict them in advance. As you start a project, give some thought to what things are likely to get in your way.
If money might be an issue, maybe you can set aside an operating budget. If red tape might tangle you up, maybe get a needed license. And so on.
Obstacles are inevitable in life, and you’ll have to deal with them in order to be successful. What tends to get in your way?
Related questions: What is uncomfortable but rewarding? How can we turn ideas into actions? When do you need inspiration? What humbles you?