#8 - Roadbumps and Roadblocks
Problems, issues, and dilemmas pop up all the time.
Whether they present as roadblocks or road bumps is up to you.
You’ll know how you perceive something by how you speak about it.
“Can’t” is always the operative word.
When you hear “can’t” come out of your mouth, pause and reflect on what you’re actually saying.
Is it true that you’ve put all your mental, emotional, and physical capacity toward an end to no avail?
Or did you make a half-hearted mental calculation about what the task would require and come to an uninformed verdict that the obstacle is a roadblock?
It’s OK to not pursue something. It’s OK to say you’re not interested.
But before you rule out a path because of some external circumstance, be clear with what you’re saying.
People who’ve committed to seeing something through are forced to take a second look at would-be roadblocks.
Oftentimes, stepping a few degrees to the side to see the situation from a different angle can give you an entirely new vantage point.
You’ll see that what initially presented as an insurmountable roadblock is really just a road bump that needs a different approach.
You may not decide to take that approach, but the fact that you didn’t give up at first resistance and made an intentional decision is all that matters.
Discipline, the ability to push into discomfort, is a muscle built over time.
Most people never build it. Hence the value of binding agreements.
Marriage, business contracts, and treaties all force people to reconsider options when “roadblocks” pop up. If the only way out is through then you’ll find a way.
Death works too. Nothing motivates change or action like the promise of dying.
Over time, these agreements build a resumé of resilience that can turn into discipline.
But it all starts with your choice to see things differently.
Road bump or road block? Choose wisely.