“Just as the nature of rational things has given to each person their rational powers, so it also gives us this power — just as nature turns to its own purpose any obstacle or any opposition, sets its place in the destined order, and co-opts it, so every rational person can convert any obstacle into the raw material for their own purpose.”
MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 8.35
Every obstacle can be converted into an advantage. That’s the wisdom in today’s chapter of The Daily Stoic — and what a choice nugget of wisdom it is!
Imagine a landslide that falls off a mountainside into a river. What happens? For a while, the river is blocked. It has nowhere to go, and if you didn’t know better you might think that was the end of the river.
But of course the water has to go somewhere, and nature always finds a way. The river eventually charts a new course around the landslide and continues on its destined path to the sea. The landslide becomes part of the river, and the obstacle becomes the way.
The same is true for us. We can likewise take any obstacle, and convert it into a new path, and even an advantage. We can take something that feels formidable and a sure show-stopper, and instead — with the right attitude and perspective — turn it into a new avenue of success.
Is there anything in your personal or professional life that feels like a disadvantage, but could potentially be turned to your benefit? An obstacle that could be looked at a different way, and might even be the springboard for a new advantage, and a foundation for new growth?
