overcoming obstacles

Overcoming Obstacles

Overcoming Obstacles – Someone told me years ago to become an authority on overcoming obstacles. At first I wasn’t sure what that meant, or if I could ever consider myself an authority on anything. But over time I learned that life throws challenges at us every day, whether they be spiritual, emotional, or physical. It’s the joy of clearing those obstacles – and being authoritative in doing it – that makes life rich.

Simply put: How we respond not only defines our days, but our weeks, months, years and our lives.

I was lucky to have someone early in my life to give me that perspective. I also benefited from having a strong emotional rock- my husband. We’ve faced everything from financial struggles to depression – all the while trying our best to raise a Godly family – and we’ve tackled each obstacle head on.

Does that make us the authority now? I don’t know. But one thing I have found is that not everyone around me benefited from the same sage advice I did. Too many people get wrapped up in complacency, blaming themselves and others for shortcomings. They don’t know what to do, or where to begin.

I’m looking at doing something bigger in the coming months, but here are a few tips or “life hacks” I’ve learned along the way to become an authority – or something close to it – on overcoming obstacles. We all have them, just about every day, so I hope these tips help you along the way!Optimism Positive Outlook Vibe Perception Vision Concept

  1. Positive Outlook – is overcoming obstacles number one! I’m reminded of a quote I read recently, which I have to change slightly due to one vulgar word, but it goes like this, “I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, ‘aw [crap], she’s up!’” If you can’t live your life with a smile on your face and positivity in your heart, then every obstacle you face going forward will look like an unclimbable mountain. Approach life with positivity, smile in the face of a challenge, and surround yourself with positive people.
  1. Embrace Self-Awareness – is number two on overcoming obstacles. Have you ever felt like it should be your way or the highway? Well who besides you said that’s the best way? Sometimes we get so caught up in doing things our own way that we end up blaming everything and everyone for the obstacles we face – except ourselves. I used to get bogged down in stuff, claiming there wasn’t enough time in the day. Truth is, there was always enough time, I was just too blind – or stubborn – to notice my own priorities were out of whack.

    To Do List Notepad Writing Tasks Jobs Work Projects

  2. Have a Plan – is super important and my number three on overcoming obstacles. If someone were to put a pizza down in front of you, would you stuff the whole thing in your mouth at once? No, you would slice it up and eat it piece by piece, right? Overcoming obstacles is not a perfect science, but like the pizza, it’s best to tackle daily challenges one at a time – and have a PLAN. Whether that be in the form of a To Do List or a Checklist, prioritize and get the important stuff done early in the day so you can easily handle the other fires as they arise throughout the day.
  1. Focus on the Controllable –Whoa, this is the hardest one for me and is my number four on overcoming obstacle. Speaking of plans, when you put one together, focus only on that which you can control. Too often we focus on what we can’t control, thinking we are miracle workers. If you want to be a miracle worker, then attack the problem from the areas you can control. Take the game of soccer as a prime example. You can’t control how good the opponent’s goalkeeper is, but you can control how hard you train, how precise your footwork can become, and how hard you shoot the ball. By focusing on those skills, you can put any ball past that world-class goalie. The same goes for life.
  1. Have Faith – Number five, but by far the greatest one of all on overcoming obstacles! I say this time and time and time again. My family tries our very best to live a life steeped in faith. We believe in anchoring our marriage to God’s teachings. We recognize he is at the wheel, and we accept whatever he has in store for us and our family. That alone can help you overcome any obstacle. And even if you can’t overcome the obstacle, faith helps you realize you will still be a better person because of it.

Faith Love Hope

What are some tips you have learned over the years to be an authority on overcoming obstacles? Share them in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading!

For more information on Karma and her goals Visit FitKarma.com