5 Lessons to Overcome Life's Obstacles

Despite the obstacles and unfortunate circumstances that may come your way, how do you go about living your life? The question is not whether or not you will experience calamity, but rather when. Therefore, having a strategy to deal with obstacles is preferable.

Note: This article is from blogger Darius Foroux, who shares 5 lessons for overcoming life's obstacles.

We all will inevitably experience pain, grief, and loss at some point in our lives, so don't wonder why bad things happen. “It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters,” as the ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus said about 2,000 years ago.

Among other things, we might lose a family member, get fired, or develop a physical disability. Also, friends may become enemies, and colleagues may turn into rivals. So, how do you handle the bad things that happen in life? Without a strategy, you risk falling into a victim mentality and becoming bitter about your life when things don't go your way.

I lost two family members, quit my job, and broke up with my partner during the first three months of 2015. In addition, I returned from London to Holland, and I felt as though life was overwhelming me even though the circumstances weren't that bad.

5 Lessons to Help You Overcome Life's Obstacles

The Following 5 Lessons Guided Me in Overcoming the Obstacles I Encountered in Life:

1. Preparing for the Worst

Although you can't stop bad things from happening, you can prevent them from overcoming you. There is no need to harm yourself by assuming that everything will go well because an unexpected obstacle will undoubtedly arise, and it will have a significant impact on you.

The answer is very simple: plan ahead and anticipate the worst-case scenario. Instead of becoming a pessimist, you should accept that things will not always turn out the way you hope. "Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between," as the American poet Maya Angelou said.

2. Everything is Temporary

Life is like the year seasons, as there are good, great, not-so-great, and terrible periods. Your life won't always be as enjoyable as summer, and it will occasionally be exhausting like winter. However, everyone is aware that bad times are only temporary. Although we are afraid when things are difficult, life goes on, so be careful not to get stuck in them.

“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on.” — Robert Frost, American poet.

3. Seeing Things for What They Truly are When Life's Obstacles Hit You

Don't wish for a "better situation" or hold out hope that your problems will be solved, as wishing and hoping are not strategies, and you won't improve until you accept that you must go through hardship and adversity.

We frequently complain about our lack of motivation, but try to be realistic and see life as it is, rather than what it should be. By concentrating on making the most of life when you encounter obstacles, this strategy will prevent you from complaining.

4. Faith

While hope in and of itself is a bad strategy, we must also be enthusiastic about the future. I don't care what you believe in because you undoubtedly have a belief in something. All you need is to be persistent and have faith in a bright future.

As the American entrepreneur, Steve Jobs said: “You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

Some people might misinterpret this discussion as wishful thinking or the Pollyanna principle. Personally, I don't like the positive thinking movement because while positivity is great, doing your best is necessary if you want to change your life.

We must remain realistic and take care of our families while also having faith in our future success, just as Steve Jobs said. As a result, you must have faith that your hard work will be rewarded in the long run.

5. Seeing Everything as a Practice

Obstacles don't ruin your life in my opinion; rather, I view them as opportunities for practice, which is always beneficial no matter how difficult it may be. So, the next time you encounter obstacles, take it slowly and remember that it is just practice.

In Conclusion

Although we don't acknowledge it until it's too late, the things you are going through right now will make you stronger, better, wiser, etc.   But wouldn't it be better to know that you're getting stronger when you're right at the moment?