Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Obstacles

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“If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?”
– Rumi

The common reaction to obstacles in the life path is a combination of desperation and frustration but the obstacles themselves are not the problem, the response to them is. Actually obstacles are an essential element of self-actualization. It’s in the process of overcoming these challenges that growth occurs.

An easy life without any obstacles creates desperation too, usually in the form of boredom, and all we need do is survey the psychology of the leisure class to see that when no conflict is present it is fabricated through channels like gossip or gambling.

In this sense obstacles, rather than being cause for despair, should be embraced because they represent the ground in which efficacy can be developed and victory can be achieved. No obstacles is like floating in sensory deprivation, you’re not at risk, you’re not challenged in any way, but the situation is a nightmare.

Many give up too easily though, they don’t see obstacles as challenges to be overcome but as immovable objects that make further progress impossible. Like we said then it’s not the obstacles that present the problem but how they’re perceived by the people who encounter them. Obstacles can be viewed as dead ends or as opportunities to cultivate unique traits and talents, opportunities to polish the mirror.

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