Life isn’t always rosy. Indeed, there are hazards and unpleasant surprises along the way. So how do we overcome life’s obstacles? How do you pick yourself up and keep going, despite everything? Here are the 6 secrets that will help you overcome everything with confidence.

1 – Transform the way you look at life’s obstacles

In life, we are led to believe that everything is supposed to happen the way we want it to.

We think of life as a straight line, or even better, as a straight arrow that keeps going up and up.

This is why, when we face life’s obstacles, we find it extremely difficult to overcome them.

Because we believe it’s not right, that it’s not fair.

In fact, it’s this rejection, this non-acceptance that hurts us.

In fact, life’s obstacles are part of our path. That’s just the way it is.

We’ll experience lows, failures. We will experience loss, grief and injustice.

That’s why I wholeheartedly invite you to change the way you look at these obstacles.

In fact, stop seeing them as walls that prevent you from moving forward, and see them as springboards for bouncing back.

Indeed, we forget one essential thing: in life, we have to learn, grow and evolve constantly.

And that’s why life constantly throws us obstacles to overcome.

Because these obstacles are teachers. They invite us to learn, grow and evolve.

2 – Making the difference

What’s more, in this life, we’ve been led to believe that everything depends on us. In other words, when something happens to us, it’s because we created it.

And this belief leads us to feel a great deal of guilt, which blocks us from overcoming life’s obstacles.

So, I wholeheartedly invite you to differentiate between things that depend on you and things that don’t depend on you.

You’ve been laid off because you’ve been unmotivated for some time and given up. So, this dismissal is a valuable reminder: find the motivation for something else and take action.

You’ve been laid off for “economic” reasons, so it’s not up to you. In other words, accept it and move on.

In fact, make sure you always distinguish between what’s up to you, what you’re responsible for, and the rest.

Because it’s important to stay clear-headed: to learn the right lessons from our mistakes and to be able to let go of what we can’t control.

So, of course, you’re entitled to feel all kinds of emotions: sadness, anger, fear, stress.

But don’t hold on to them.

And don’t cling to life’s obstacles that don’t depend on you, or even those that do. Learning from them is the secret to moving forward.

3 – Look for solutions to life’s obstacles

When faced with obstacles, we tend to give up. Why do we do this?

Because we’ve learned to make excuses instead of finding solutions.

Indeed, in our society, we hear people complaining all day long, always about the same problems.

And nothing changes. No wonder.

Because nothing changes if we don’t change anything.

In fact, it’s not up to life to adapt to you, but up to you to transform your life. Can you see the difference?

That’s why find solutions. Look for them everywhere.

So, of course, at the time, it’s normal to complain and even despair. It’s normal, it’s human.

But at some point, we have to pick ourselves up, roll up our sleeves and get on with things.

Because nobody’s going to do it for us. Nobody’s going to do it for you.

So think “solutions” instead of “excuses”.

4 – Connecting with others

When life throws us a curveball, we feel pretty much alone. In fact, we think it only happens to us.

Because misfortune, grief and disappointment tend to make us a little egocentric. And that’s perfectly normal.

In fact, our pain pushes us to refocus on ourselves. And this is essential if we are to take care of ourselves and find solutions to get better.

But the problem is that we tend to plunge totally into ourselves, forgetting about everyone else.

Without realizing that our pain is intensifying. In fact, the more we focus on ourselves and our problems, the bigger it all gets.

It’s all we can think about, all we can see. And that’s too much to bear, not to mention the risk of resenting all those others who don’t seem to want to help us.

So let’s breathe!

And now, let’s learn to take our eyes off ourselves and think of others. To those others who, at this very moment, are going through the same things we are, perhaps even worse.

Let’s breathe again.

Because we are all one in the face of life’s obstacles.

So let’s replace our frustration, our sense of injustice, with compassion and kindness for others.

You’ll see, you’ll breathe easier when you think of others, when you connect with them and their pain, which is similar to yours.

5 – Connect to something bigger than yourself when life throws up obstacles

Now it’s a matter of trusting. Unfortunately, we haven’t learned to do that.

Indeed, we haven’t learned to connect to something bigger than ourselves, to trust in Life with a capital L.

In fact, we’ve been taught that the world is hostile, that life is hard, and that’s why, when life’s obstacles stand in our way, we tremble, we despair.

What if what’s happening right now is a lesson? What if it was a springboard for becoming stronger, wiser?

That’s why I wholeheartedly invite you to take some time to meditate on this.

What if Life wasn’t telling you to give up, to give up, but to learn, grow and evolve?

What if Life wasn’t here to hurt you unjustly, but to help you become a stronger, more compassionate human being?

Indeed, life’s obstacles have the power to make us better people, because we then take a gentler, more compassionate look at everything around us.

6 – Show patience and perseverance

In this life, we’re impatient, because we’re used to speed, even immediacy.

What’s more, we’re surrounded by stories of people who have achieved everything in record time and without the slightest apparent effort.

But it’s not true!

Anything worthwhile takes time.

So don’t despair.

Because Life can play with your patience and perseverance.

Indeed, don’t think that obstacles come to tell you to stop everything, they just come to test your patience and perseverance.

I’m talking in particular about certain projects, certain dreams.

Don’t give up just because it’s taking longer than you expected.

The only question to ask yourself is: “Is it worth it?”

If the answer is yes, then overcome all of life’s obstacles. One by one. With confidence, with hope.

One day, it will happen.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover How to deal with the unexpected in life: My 10 tips
Discover Accepting life as it is: 4 steps to greater serenity

I recommend this inspiring book:

The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday

In Obstacle, Ryan Holiday explores the theme of life’s obstacles and challenges, looking at the reasons behind human behavior and decision-making. The book encourages us to reflect on the obstacles we face, and sheds light on the psychological factors that often determine our reactions. Through a combination of philosophy and practical wisdom, Ryan Holiday guides us on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, helping us to overcome life’s obstacles with resilience and a deeper understanding of our own motivations.

This book will have a profound impact on the way you see things. It will enlighten you on many essential aspects of life. A true masterpiece!

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself