It doesn't matter who you are,
we're always getting tested
by the world, the universe.
It's allways testing us. Whether we
are worthy, whether we're good enough,
whether if you're going to fall
down you are going to get back up,
constantly tested. But then have you
ever wondered whether this thing,
this test, this obstacle, whether
that is the right way to go,
whether that is the right path that you
should follow? Because here's the thing,
whatever obstacle that we have,
we decide how we react to it.
Because of course they're going to
make us frustrated, angry, annoyed,
just really, really pissed
off. Like, what is going on?.
Whatever obstacle this is,
it will be unique to us and how we
react to it will be up to us as well.
Because certain obstacles will
make us angry, annoyed, frustrated,
confused, depressed, sad.
Any of these things and we get
to decide how we react to it.
So the question is what
if this thing, this test,
this obstacle, what if that
is the way that you should go?
And that exactly what this book is about,
"The Obstacle Is The Way" by Ryan Holiday,
I'm going to be doing a review on it.
And it's not about telling yourself,
Oh, this is not so bad, this obstacle.
It's about how you should look at this
obstacle and see it as a good thing.
And to will yourself to see it as
good thing you are on the right path,
you are going in the right
direction and should keep going.
So I want to briefly go over why
this book is such a great book,
brilliant book and just
to briefly go about it.
But obviously before we get too far ahead,
don't forget to subscribe and
like the video while you're at it.
And I want to explain to you why this
is a really good book for you to think
about on the ancient art of
turning adversity to advantage.
It's no secret that I've been open about
being deaf and I've been open about how
this is challenging me and
the challenges that I faced.
There are barriers in front of me and
I've got videos about that in a separate
playlist and you can check that out. But
here's the thing. It made me realise,
it maybe took me too long to realise,
that maybe I can use that to my advantage.
Maybe it's something that I can use that
will help me to get further in life or
to get another opportunity
in a different way.
Or maybe where ever I wanted to go,
that path is not the intended path,
but there's another path that
I should go to. That maybe,
might be more difficult or maybe
just another way to get in there,
but maybe that's the way. Maybe because
of the obstacle you just take a detour,
take a diversion on a different way to
get to that goal and that's kind of what
the book is really generally about.
I have made a tonne of notes when reading
this book and what I've learned as
well so many things.
But among the things that I have learned
is that there are three steps into
overcoming obstacles.
Number one is how we look
at our specific problems,
our attitude or approach. Number two,
the energy and creativity that break them
down and turn them into opportunities.
And then number three is the cultivation
and maintenance of yourself that will
allow you to handle that and
handle difficulties around it.
So it's all about the perception
of it, the action and the will.
These are the three things that are
really covered in quite good details.
But it does emphasise a lot on how
to react to the obstacle because it
claims that the only way you can survive
and overcome the obstacle is that if
you keep your emotions in check.
Because your energy is going to be spent
too much on trying to overcome it in a
negative way. If you
have a negative reaction,
you're going to spend a
lot of energy on that,
but it's not going to get you anywhere.
But if you use the energy else
where and use it as an opportunity,
then maybe you can overcome it
in a better way than you thought.
A lot of people might be thinking, wait,
you can find opportunities in
obstacles? but then yes, you can.
I think you should maybe look at it
in your own life and think about what
obstacles happened in your way that made
you go in a different direction and I'm
sure there are a tonne of people out
there whether they are famous or not,
that had that happened
to them. For example,
there could be a person who really wanted
to be a professional sports person but
did not because he was
injured, she was injured,
and then ended up doing something
else. Off the top of my head,
I know that how Lewis Howes, he did
that from The School of Greatness.
He trained really hard to be a
professional American Football player,
but he got serious injury and he got
depressed and he overcame that by having a
lifestyle business and having an
extremely popular podcast as well and
interviewed a tonne of
people who are big names.
So that's an obstacle from one person.
I've told you my obstacle and it's just
about how you can use that to create new
opportunities, new ideas. Now, of course,
it doesn't mean that you just sit back,
relax and just let the obstacle happen
and just wait for new opportunities. No,
you gotta work for it. You
can't just sit around and wait.
What I would say and what the book also
says is that you should treat obstacles
like a feedback system.
That way you can look at it and you
can analyse it and think about what you
should do next because you
shouldn't always be discouraged,
You know it's not okay to quit and
that's why you should treat failure as
feedback.
Giving you precise instructions on how
to improve because it's trying to teach
you something as well. I really can go
over about it in so much more details,
on the notes I've been making on the
book, but, long story short, get it.
It's just such a brilliant
book, one of my favourite books.
I know I'm going to be reading it again
and again and it just shows you that
despite the negative things
that happen in all of our lives,
there are ways to get around it and there
are ways to overcome it and there ways
to allow that to make you a better person.
Now of course it's not easy to immediately
think like that when there comes a
problem or serious situation.
Of course it's so hard to
think in a positive way.
I'm not saying that.
What I am saying is don't let that knock
you down and then you stay down because
we need to move forward with things
and we've all had those challenges.
We've all had those moments
when we just feel like,
I can't cope anymore in terms
of this challenge or this job,
this task, this relationship
I have or whatever.
See it as an opportunity to see
if you can do something about it.
But at the same time get this book,
get this book, it's so so good.
Let me know if you've read it,
I'm really curious to know
what you think about it.
At the same time I would love to know
if you have a story about if you had an
obstacle that kind of stopped you on
your path to reach that specific goal.
What did you do? Did you let it
get to you? Did you get around it?
Did you find a new opportunity? I would
love to know any of these stories.
Let me know in a comment
down below. In the meantime,
I will speak to you again soon. Take care.
