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June    30th

THE OBSTACLE    IS  THE WAY

“While  it’s    true    that    someone can impede  our actions,    they    can’t   impede  our intentions  and our

attitudes,  which   have    the power   of  being   conditional and adaptable.  For the mind    adapts  and

converts    any obstacle    to  its action  into    a   means   of  achieving   it. That    which   is  an  impediment  to

action  is  turned  to  advance action. The obstacle    on  the path    becomes the way.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS,   MEDITATIONS,    5.20

oday, things will happen that will be contrary to your plans. If not today, then certainly tomorrow. As
a result of these obstacles, you will not be able to do what you planned. This is not as bad as it
seems, because your mind is infinitely elastic and adaptable. You have the power to use the Stoic exercise
of turning obstacles upside down, which takes one negative circumstance and uses it as an opportunity to
practice an unintended virtue or form of excellence.
If something prevents you from getting to your destination on time, then this is a chance to practice
patience.
If an employee makes an expensive mistake, this is a chance to teach a valuable lesson.
If a computer glitch erases your work, it’s a chance to start over with a clean slate.
If someone hurts you, it’s a chance to practice forgiveness.
If something is hard, it is a chance to get stronger.
Try this line of thinking and see whether there is a situation in which one could not find some virtue to
practice or derive some benefit. There isn’t one. Every impediment can advance action in some form or
another.