The Obstacles That Block Us

The greatest limits we face rarely come from the outside world—not from society, not from others—but from within ourselves. They come from the stories we tell ourselves and the beliefs we accept as truths.

I know this well. For years, I lived in a prison of my own making. You may wonder what changed—and I could tell you—but in truth, each of us must decide, moment by moment, who we wish to be, and then work to become that person.

Here’s the thing: we don’t change until staying the same becomes unbearable. It’s human nature. We’re wired to play it safe, to stick to what we’ve always done—until what we’ve always done no longer serves us. Only then can we imagine doing things differently.

I’m not suggesting you act rashly. I am suggesting you look at yourself and your life with curious eyes. Just as I sometimes “fact check” with friends to be sure I’ve heard them right, we should fact check our own thoughts. Many of the limitations we believe in are not facts at all—they’re just interpretations, and interpretations can change.

Ask yourself: What’s getting in the way of what I want? Sometimes the obstacle is real. But often, it’s a belief we’ve carried from the past—a belief that we’re too much or not enough, that we can’t do something, or that someone is standing in our way when they aren’t.

A few years ago, during meditation, I asked myself what was blocking the life I wanted. The answer came instantly—and I realized it was completely baseless. The moment I saw that clearly, everything began to shift. Without that (imagined) obstacle, there was nothing left to stop me.

So here’s my reminder—to you, and to myself:

Look at yourself with curious eyes. Ask what’s really in your way. Then fact check it. You might find it’s just an old story, one you’re ready to rewrite.

Sending love and light,