What keeps you from moving forward? The anchors and chains of your past, of course.
When you ask, whether you can do X, the question that matters foremost, is whether what you can do is something that benefits you or destroys you going forward.
If it benefits you, yet, you still feel a pull from behind, then you must address it, with the next declaration: Judgment comes from people with small minds, to achieve greatness, I must defy small minds.
If this journey consumes you, you must reflect:
Is it the weight of your past that binds you here, lost, conflicted, and powerless? If so, then here you will stand, determined to either conquer this hill or perish upon it. Should you triumph, you will be free to follow your desires. If you fall, it is here you will accept that you can no longer move forward, and part of you will be buried, forgotten.
However, know this. Is this really where you want to be buried? Ask yourself: are the consequences of stopping here, better than the consequences of keep going forward? Alas, before you answer this question, to dig yourself the grave you feverishly desire to die in, as it is indeed, the easiest way out of your current discomfort…
Understand this:
Every challenge holds within it multiple pathways to resolution. A wall stands before you, but clearly, it is not an infinite expanse. Its length, width, and thickness are not boundless. So why persist in walking into it, over and over again? Why narrow your focus to only one possible solution? Will continuing to collide with the wall eventually bring it down? How many attempts will it take before it breaks? What if there is another wall behind it, or if the wall is far thicker than you imagine? What if it is brittle, but once breached, it collapses upon you?
This is how you convince yourself that you cannot succeed, because you’ve ‘tried’. Moving forward and repeatedly smashing into the wall without progress is not truly an attempt. It’s your mind trying to convince you that progress is futile. Many live their lives this way, and some even become destructive forces, aggressively dismantling obstacles they perceive as standing between them and their happiness. While this may seem like strength, especially within the shallow affirmations of a like-minded crowd, it is ultimately a short-sighted and unintelligent way to address challenges.
Instead of battering yourself against the wall, repeatedly hurting yourself, there are other ways. I could bring a ladder and climb over it, set dynamite at its base to topple it, or simply step around it – walking to the left or right. Better yet, why not build upon it? I could construct a house with the wall, add a second floor with a balcony, and then, from that balcony, create a waterfall leading to a lake, from which I could dive freely. The possibilities are truly limitless. Bashing through the wall until it breaks, at the cost of your own well-being, is not an effective way to challenge yourself. It’s merely a misguided attempt to force a solution rather than seeking the many alternatives that may lie just beyond your immediate view.
Thinking outside the box isn’t merely about finding different solutions. It’s about transforming setbacks into stepping stones, turning disadvantages into advantages.
Building Empires from Walls – Turning Obstacles into Foundations:
Understanding this fundamental concept, it becomes clear that the wall isn’t simply something to be broken. It can also be a resource for your benefit. It’s not just about shifting your perspective. It’s about understanding why you resent the wall in the first place. You despise it because it symbolizes an obstacle to your happiness and freedom.
Empires are not always constructed from the ruins of the vanquished. More often, they are built upon the foundations of ancient civilizations, aiming to refine and elevate the existing state of being.
Thinking beyond the obvious:
When faced with a problem, ask yourself if there are alternate solutions. Challenges in life are not limited to one path or one method of resolution. The obstacles before us, much like walls, don’t necessarily need to be demolished. They can be repurposed, transformed, or navigated.
Thinking outside the box isn’t just about finding a different solution. It’s about recognizing that the very obstacles you face can be turned into opportunities. Just as empires rise not from the rubble of the conquered but from the foundation of what came before, your greatest triumphs can often emerge from the challenges that initially seemed like barriers.
As you explore multiple solutions, be aware that each resolution will likely bring new challenges, and with them, even more possibilities for growth. Every solution unlocks a new layer of complexity, yet with every new obstacle comes an even greater opportunity to find innovative paths. It’s an ongoing cycle of adaptation, where each wall you encounter could be the next foundation for something greater.