How to deal with Obstacles
Obstacles are normal barriers in life. Something that every one of us has encountered yet - often small, sometimes bigger ones, maybe huge ones. They can occur in every part of your life, as an employee, an investor an entrepreneur or within the family. Everyday we are confronted with new challenges. But how can we best deal with them?
Ryan Holiday describes the stoic way to approach obstacles: using them to grow, to learn, to get even further than without them. The Obstacle is the Way. Well, it could be if we approach them this way.
The stoic philosophy was built by people like Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Zenon or Seneca and its learnings and lessons are thousands of years old, yet very applicable, practical and still up to date. That’s what fascinates me about it again and again.
In the book the stoic approach is broken down to several „paths“ that lead that way, several components you could use, stories of men and women who mastered this way of thinking. Lincoln, Ghandi, Erhart, Roosevelt and many others.
What I liked
It is easy to ready since it is small chapters and clear language. Many good examples from history on how to grow despite obstacles, even because of them. Lincoln eg. would have never been the leader he was hadn‘t he dealt with heavy obstacles in his life and strengthened himself through them.
But…
…to really profit from this book - or in general from books like this - you need to read it at least twice. Use a pencil to mark the passages that inspired you the most, take notes, take time to reflect about the lessons and stories given. Otherwise you will have forgotten most of the stuff after a few weeks.
You can get the book on Amazon or elsewhere but I found a PDF version that is available on the internet which is free to read as far as I saw.
Have you heard of this stoic way to tackle obstacles yet? Are you interested in stoic philosophy?
PS: @wiseagent you asked me to notify you, once this post gets published. Hope it was of use to you.
