Embarking on my usual morning walk, I found myself immersed in a podcast featuring Joko Willink, a former Navy SEAL renowned for crafting a mindset synonymous with victory. It was during this stroll that a simple yet profound question echoed through my earbuds, directed at Willink: How does he react in the face of obstacles? His response, delivered with unwavering simplicity, resonated deeply within me – a single word that carried immense power: “Good.”
As those four letters bounced around in my mind, I couldn’t help but reassess my own approach to life’s challenges. At that moment, the seed of curiosity was planted – how do I truly navigate the hurdles that life throws my way?
In the upcoming exploration, I aim to delve into the intricate layers of the mindset required to conquer any obstacle life presents. Willink’s nonchalant yet impactful “Good” served as the catalyst, prompting a journey into the profound realm of mental resilience and the profound art of overcoming adversity. Join me as we unravel the secrets of a mindset needed to overcome any obstacle, discovering the transformative power hidden within the simplicity of a single word.
Daily Obstacle Roadblocks
In our daily grind, we all come across different hurdles – some are common to everyone, while others are more like our own personal puzzles. Life throws challenges at all of us, but it’s not about the type of problems we face; it’s more about how we deal with them that shapes where we end up.
Picture this: when something scary pops up, our reactions are a bit like fight, flight, or freeze. It’s the same deal with life’s obstacles. Take that overdue bill you find in the mailbox – you can either face it, ignore it and hope it magically disappears, or just run away from it. Nobody likes problems, but avoiding them usually makes things worse.
Now, here’s the key – training our minds to handle these problems is crucial. This is where Joko comes in with his straightforward approach. Instead of making things complicated or finding excuses, he just says “Good” and tackles the issue. It’s like having a superpower to cut through the noise and get things done.
As good as this sounds having a clear plan of how to tackle obstacles would be of great help. I got studying and I managed to come up with a 3-step principle that can be followed effectively to any obstacle. Here’s my results…
1. Embrace the Obstacle
The Power of Simplicity
What led me to pen down these thoughts was the profound way in which Joko approaches obstacles. Upon analysis, it becomes clear that his strategy revolves around fundamentally accepting the obstacle at hand. Joko grasps the reality that certain challenges are beyond his control; however, he firmly acknowledges that he has full control over how he responds.
This mindset not only facilitates taking 100% responsibility for the situation but also aligns seamlessly with the principles of positive reframing. The seemingly simple yet potent declaration of “Good” acts as a conceptual Tardis, appearing compact on the surface but expanding into a vast realm of meaning. Drawing a parallel with the word “love,” it encapsulates multifaceted sentiments, from a parent’s love for their child to the camaraderie experienced by war veterans.
Joko masterfully distils complexity into simplicity, a true art form. Confronted with any obstacle today, tomorrow, or throughout one’s life, uttering a resolute “good” becomes a transformative act. To take action today you have to accept what’s in front of you, own what’s in front of you and then overcome what’s in front of you. Through this, the realisation dawns that achieving anything in life is possible, marking the cultivation of an essential aspect of the mindset warrior within.
See It as a Learning Opportunity
When it comes to obstacles, the reason why you solve them or not is how you view the challenge (find data). You can look at it with dread and the mindset that it’s impossible or you can change your direction of thinking to a learning opportunity. This allows you to take the pressure off solving the problem but see the challenge as a place to grow. With this, the mind will be calm and allow you to focus on solving the problem.
Turning Obstacles into Advantages
Embracing challenges presents an opportunity to undergo personal development, nurture resilience, and cultivate virtues. Drawing inspiration from Stoic philosophy, Ryan Holiday coined the phrase “The obstacle is the way,” suggesting that obstacles, rather than hindering progress, often pave the way to success.
This mindset towards obstacles offers distinct advantages in how you perceive problems. It encourages you not only to accept but also to actively seek out obstacles, recognizing their inevitability much like the regular rising and setting of the sun. Many individuals shy away from life’s obstacles, yet, to reap the rewards of accomplishing our goals, facing these challenges becomes imperative. The next time you encounter an obstacle, understand that navigating it is not merely a detour but indeed “the way” to your desired destination.
Embrace What We Can and Cannot Control
Understanding what is within your control and what is not holds significance for maintaining clear thoughts and directing your energy effectively. In the complexity of life, many attempt to micromanage every aspect, only to find that life can throw unexpected challenges regardless. Personally, I cherish the idea of controlling my daily routine, desiring moments of silence for writing. However, the unpredictability of life introduces interruptions, like a 4-year-old needing attention or encountering misunderstandings when trying to convey my point of view. The list of things we attempt to control is extensive, yet fundamentally, we lack control over most of these aspects.
Even our bodies, often assumed to be under our control, were recognized by the Stoics of the past as not entirely within our dominion. External forces can render us slaves or imprison us without any justifiable reason. The empowering revelation, however, is that amid this lack of control, there remains one constant – our mind. Despite the overwhelming emotions, fear, or the chaotic nature of our thoughts, we possess the ability to make choices.
In the face of every obstacle, the decisive factor in the outcome lies in the one thing we can truly control – our mind. The strength of the mind directly correlates with the strength of one’s will. Embracing your mind becomes the key to problem-solving, allowing you to leave the rest to the unpredictable forces of the universe.
Therefore, when confronted with an obstacle, adopt a mindset that values simplicity, acknowledges the potential for personal growth, embraces a change in perspective, and directs your focus solely on what you can control – your mind.
2. Own Your Response
Take 100% Ownership
Taking ownership of what happens in your life is an integral part of overcoming obstacles. We all know someone who makes excuses for every problem they face. The child who always blames the teacher or the politicians who blame everyone but themselves. This is weakness, an easy temptation that tries to protect our ego from the truth, our shortcomings.
The Dalai Lama said it best, “When you think everything is someone else’s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.”
Taking that level of responsibility allows you to face an obstacle without passing blame. I have seen people blame God for their problems, blame their parents at 30 years of age for their shortcomings, and even blame the weather for ruining their day. When we hand over that level of responsibility to others, we are only left with pain and more suffering. All this and you’re still short of overcoming the obstacle in your way.
Taking 100% responsibility for everything, even if it seems unfair, will keep the power in your hands and allow clarity of mind to overcome any obstacle. How I look at it is when you’re exercising and the voice in your head is telling you to quit, it’s just the same voice trying to protect you from fault. You just have to be kind to the voice and say not today and change that habit.
Be Adaptable
Effectively responding to problems demands adaptability to change. Life’s journey is unpredictable and takes unexpected turns. For instance, picture a project at work taking an unexpected turn due to market shifts. Being adaptable means swiftly reassessing your strategy, adjusting to the new landscape, and finding innovative solutions to propel the project forward. Embracing the inevitability of change daily keeps you mentally prepared and agile.
This adaptability is a cornerstone in overcoming any obstacle, ensuring you can navigate the twists and turns of life with resilience and readiness for transformation.
Develop Adaptive Thinking
Beyond adaptability lies the power of adaptive thinking—a superpower for tackling obstacles. Recognizing that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, cultivating adaptive thinking allows you to explore numerous pathways. For instance, when facing a personal challenge, such as a career setback, adaptive thinking involves considering various career paths, upskilling, or even venturing into entrepreneurship. This flexibility enables you to proactively shape your professional journey.
Openness to alternative perspectives and approaches enhances your flexibility in problem-solving. Embracing diverse strategies for different obstacles becomes second nature, empowering you to navigate challenges with creativity and a dynamic mindset.
Practice Resilience
The resilience muscle is pivotal in overcoming obstacles. A weak resilience muscle leaves you vulnerable to feeling overwhelmed and losing control. For example, imagine facing a series of personal setbacks, such as financial struggles. Practicing resilience means viewing these setbacks as temporary hurdles.
By reassessing financial goals, budgeting strategically, and seeking additional income sources, you can turn these challenges into opportunities for financial growth and stability. Strengthening this muscle involves viewing setbacks as temporary and surmountable. This proactive approach propels your mindset into a state of growth, granting you control over your responses. Building resilience transforms challenges into opportunities for personal growth, fostering the ability to bounce back and endure the trials that life presents.
3. Overcome With Positivity
Positive Re-framing
Positive psychology research suggests that adopting a positive framing or optimistic perspective contributes to increased resilience, better emotional well-being, and improved problem-solving skills (Seligman, 2002). In the modern age, an optimistic perspective is needed to make the necessary changes to grow.
A lot of people are still hardwired for pessimism which allowed our ancestors to spot danger in keeping us alive from predatory danger. Luckily, most of us are living without the threat of someone trying to eat us every day so we have to quiet down our chimp mind and focus more on the human part of our brain. This will allow focus on positive outcomes to problems.
This is where the transformative power of positive reframing truly comes into play. Embracing a positive perspective enables you to unlock a realm of possibilities, allowing you to see beyond the limitations of obstacles. Developing self-awareness in how you respond to challenges is crucial; it unveils the habits in place and sheds light on what does and doesn’t work. By training your mind to dismiss the negative and redirect focus toward the positive, the impact can be monumental.
Picture a bomb expert arriving at the scene and solely fixating on the negatives of the situation – they would never approach the bomb to defuse it. Positive reframing is the key that empowers you to step forward, assess, and navigate obstacles with a solution-oriented mindset.
With any obstacle have the perspective of it being an opportunity to grow is the perception change needed to overcome any obstacle.
Break Down the Obstacle
When faced with a substantial obstacle, especially a complex problem, viewing it in its entirety can be overwhelming. Consider, for instance, a challenging project at work. Breaking down the obstacle into small, manageable chunks becomes crucial in maintaining a positive attitude and focusing on the task at hand.
Picture the project broken into distinct phases or tasks, allowing you to tackle each part systematically. This approach not only prevents feelings of being overwhelmed but also builds a sense of accomplishment as you make progress. Momentum is vital, especially in time-sensitive situations. By looking at the obstacle and working backwards in your thinking, you can navigate challenges more efficiently, moving forward faster.
Celebrate Small Wins
Not all obstacles are solved overnight, and staying positive is of utmost priority. Imagine a personal goal, like adopting a healthier lifestyle. The importance of celebrating the small wins, such as choosing a nutritious meal or completing a workout, keeps the mind focused and calm. This celebration allows you to maintain a clear mindset and not get bogged down in the enormity of overcoming the overall problem.
Acknowledging and celebrating these incremental achievements create a positive feedback loop, reinforcing your commitment to overcoming obstacles with perseverance and a sense of accomplishment.
Principle of Obstacle Mastery: Embrace, Own, Overcome
Inspired by the resilience of individuals like Joko, the principle of obstacle mastery advocates for a transformative approach to challenges. Here’s a simple three-step guide:
- Embrace the Obstacle:
- Acknowledge and accept challenges as part of life’s journey. Recognize that some things are beyond your control, but your response is within your power.
- Own Your Response:
- Take 100% responsibility for how you deal with obstacles. Focus on what you can influence – your mindset, actions, and decisions.
- Overcome with Positivity:
- Apply positive reframing, encapsulated in a simple “Good” mindset. See obstacles not as roadblocks but as opportunities for growth. Confront, tackle, and learn from each challenge.
By adopting this principle, you empower yourself to navigate life’s hurdles with resilience, turning every obstacle into a stepping stone toward personal growth and achievement. Embrace, own, and overcome – the pathway to becoming a mindset warrior.