The Obstacle is the Way

Quotes from 'The Obstacle is the Way' by Ryan Holiday

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

Like any good school, learning from failure isn’t free. The tuition is paid in discomfort or loss and having to start over.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

To argue, to complain, or worse, to just give up, these are choices. Choices that more often than not, do nothing to get us across the finish line.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

Our actions may be impeded . . . but there can be no impeding our intentions or dispositions. Because we can accommodate and adapt. The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

There are far more failures in the world due to a collapse of will than there will ever be from objectively conclusive external events.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

Genius often really is just persistence in disguise.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

Failure shows us the way—by showing us what isn’t the way.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

Think progress, not perfection.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

You’ll have far better luck toughening yourself up than you ever will trying to take the teeth out of a world that is—at best—indifferent to your existence.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

It doesn’t matter whether this is the worst time to be alive or the best, whether you’re in a good job market or a bad one, or that the obstacle you face is intimidating or burdensome. What matters is that right now is right now.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

Each time, you’ll learn something. Each time, you’ll develop strength, wisdom, and perspective. Each time, a little more of the competition falls away. Until all that is left is you: the best version of you.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

We blame our bosses, the economy, our politicians, other people, or we write ourselves off as failures or our goals as impossible. When really only one thing is at fault: our attitude and approach.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

We must all either wear out or rust out, every one of us. My choice is to wear out.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

Uncertainty and fear are relieved by authority. Training is authority.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

We decide what story to tell ourselves. Or whether we will tell one at all.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

See things for what they are. Do what we can. Endure and bear what we must. What blocked the path now is a path. What once impeded action advances action. The Obstacle is the Way.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

It doesn’t matter whether this is the worst time to be alive or the best, whether you’re in a good job market or a bad one, or that the obstacle you face is intimidating or burdensome. What matters is that right now is right now.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

In life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control. Where will I find good and bad? In me, in my choices.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

Uncertainty and fear are relieved by authority. Training is authority.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.

[The Obstacle is the Way @ObstacleWaybot]

You’ll have far better luck toughening yourself up than you ever will trying to take the teeth out of a world that is—at best—indifferent to your existence.