Instant manifestation. You think it and it appears. You write it down and it becomes reality. Sound good? Actually, it would be a nightmare. Your life would be a jumble of confusing and conflicting thoughts and you would be continually fixing mistakes and apologizing for transgressions.
Thankfully, there is a buffer of time between first thought and manifestation that protects us and keeps us sane. We want something, we think about how to get it, and then we do the work. It takes time and reason and effort to get from first thought to fruition.
And it’s a messy process. There are lots of failed attempts, unsolved problems, and abandoned ideas along the way. That’s part of the buffer, too. These obstacles help us clarify our objectives and ultimately, get better results.
But sometimes these obstacles get the better of us and stop us from getting what we want. How do you overcome obstacles that keep you from achieving your goals?
You could power through the problem. Drink another cup of coffee, burn the midnight oil and do what needs to be done.
When we do this, we acknowledge the obstacle and then defeat it by refusing to give up. When we do, we’re often the better for it. Tired, but victorious!
But there’s another way and it’s a lot less taxing. Instead of fighting the problem, eliminate it.
Make a list of obstacles that are keeping you from achieving your goals. Your list might look something like this:
- I don’t know what to do/don’t know how
- I’m not good at [whatever]
- I don’t have enough time
- I don’t have enough money
- I don’t like doing what I have to do
- I lack confidence
- I procrastinate (actually, this is a symptom; the obstacle is one of the other things on this list)
Then, make a list of ways you could remove those obstacles:
- Get help doing the things you’re not good at or don’t like doing
- Money: Sell something, save, use credit, find vendors who will barter
- Eliminate or postpone other tasks and projects to free up time (prioritize/learn to say no)
- Talk to someone who has done it and get their advice
- Read, take a class, and learn how to do it or how to do it better
- Hire an expert to advise you
- Outsource all or part of it
- Change the rules. Modify the goal or objective to suit your present situation
- Ignore the problem and let your subconscious mind solve it while you’re doing something else
You can either work harder (power through the problem) or work smarter (eliminate or dilute the problem).
And if neither of these works, you can confess your sins to your wife, mom, partner, or client and have them make you do it.
Hey, whatever works.
