Book Summary Review: The Obstacle Is The Way

High achievers view setbacks as opportunities. To live a life of full potential, we should overcome various obstacles and convert them into strengths and opportunities. In “The Obstacle is the Way,” Ryan Holiday outlines three disciplines for turning trials into triumphs, including Action, Perception, and Will.

This personal development book was inspired by the anecdote from Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor who argued that the impediment to action advances action. In this case, what stands in the way of triumph becomes the way. In this book, Holiday argues that behind every successful person is the ability to overcome various obstacles. The book is divided into three main sections: Perception, Action, and the Will.

Perception

Perception refers to how you see and understand what goes on around you and what the events mean to you. In this case, your perception can become a source of strength or a source of great weakness. If you look forward to turning your obstacles or adversities into strengths, you must be willing to manage your expectations.

We all face life-related mental, physical, and emotional obstacles. Even though we all face them, what separates those who succeed from those who fail is their ability to make the best of a situation. When faced with setbacks, the first action that we most likely take is to let our emotions cloud our judgment.

However, by controlling emotions, we see clearly and can come up with solutions. It is up to us to remain objective and separate ourselves from our issues. Managing perceptions involve:

1. Being objective
2. Acknowledging your power
3. Controlling your nerves
4. Avoiding panic
5. Modifying your perspective 
6. Focusing on what you can do
7. Focusing on the now
8. Thinking outside the box 
9. Looking for opportunities in problems

Action

According to Holiday’s “The Obstacle is the Way,” action refers to tackling problems in actionable parts. Even though the action is common, taking the “right action” is not. When faced with life-related obstacles, you must believe in yourself and work harder toward attaining the desired goals. In this section, Holiday used Demosthenes and Alexander the Great to explain how they overcame their obstacles. Alexander the Great tamed the most dangerous horse in Greece, making it his own. His case teaches us that we can overcome anything with a clear vision, resilience, and enthusiasm.

Holiday also gives the story of  Demosthenes, a famous Greek orator. Demosthenes lost his father at 7 years of age, and, among other challenges, his caregivers took his inheritance. Instead of crying and pitying himself, he took measures to conquer his issues. Intending to strengthen his voice and overcome his speech impediment, he practiced public speaking with his mouth full of pebbles and sometimes while running on steep slopes. Unlike other children, he would study during his free time instead of playing. His hard work helped him become one of the greatest orators ever known. 

From the stories of Demosthenes and Alexander the Great, we learn that even though obstacles can be terrifying, most of them have weak points. In this case, our main goal is to find an obstacle’s weaknesses and take advantage of them. Alexander the Great, for example, chased the dangerous horse for hours until it got tired of fighting him. If we are keen enough, we can see weaknesses in our obstacles that we can exploit. Unfortunately, many give up before they have taken advantage of their obstacle’s weaknesses. 

Will

The last challenge for you to remain determined even in the face of adversities is the will. The will refers to cultivating and maintaining your inner being to effectively conquer life-related issues and difficulties. Even with perception and action, we sometimes face unexpected life trials that challenge us no matter how hard we try to overcome them.

To prevail, we must be ready to cultivate the will to repeatedly confront challenges/obstacles. Abraham Lincoln was another individual who faced many obstacles when growing up. He lost his mother at a young age, struggled with poverty and depression, and, among other issues, had to educate himself.

Even so, he refused to give up. On the contrary, he chose to find life’s meaning and crafted his best quote, “This too shall pass.” 

Since life is short, as Romans believed, time is a gift that should never be wasted. Wasting time, in this case, becomes a crime against ourselves. Instead of giving up when we face life’s adversities, we should spend adequate time reflecting on the setbacks and examining what we can learn from them. 

Book Takeaways

1. The philosophy of Stoicism helps people to overcome adversities.
2. Stoicism rests on three main disciplines:  perception, action, and will.
3. The bigger an obstacle is or appears, the greater its weak spot.
4. What stands in your way is the way. The impediment to action advances action.
5. Great people find a way to transform weaknesses into strengths.
6. There is good in everything if we diligently look for it.
7. We may not be able to choose what happens to us. However, we can change what we feel about it.
8. When faced with obstacles, get your perspective right. See issues for what they are.
9. Take action, and do what you can with whatever you have.
10. Taking action is common, but taking the “right action” is not.  
11. Right actions are directed, deliberate, bold, and persistent.
12. Use the will to accept things you cannot change, and change those things you can.
13. View obstacles as welcomed opportunities. 
14. In this life, we have choices. “Whatever we face, we have a choice: Will we be blocked by obstacles, or will we advance through and over them?”
15. The things that hurt, instruct. Major victories involve resolving issues with focus, creativity, and a daring attitude.
16. Learn to steady emotions and nerves. In life, cultivate the skill of remaining calm and fixing issues rather than reacting to them.
17. When trying to achieve big dreams, believe in yourself and your capabilities.
18. Time is a gift; wasting time is a crime against ourselves.
19. Uncertainty and fear are relieved by authority. Training is authority.
20. Obstacles present opportunities to practice courage, patience, humility, justice, and creativity.