Imaginary obstacles
Posted on September 24, 2008
Filed Under Embrace Your Highest Path and Purpose, Manifest Your Desired Outcomes, Releasing Limiting Beliefs, Spirit Guides and Angels, Spiritual Development |
When I asked my Guides for inspiration for this article, the phrase “tilting at windmills” kept turning around and around in my head. Although it was a familiar saying, I looked it up. The phrase has its origin in the story of Don Quixote, the would-be knight who tried to battle windmills, thinking they were giants. The phrase has come to mean “attacking imaginary enemies.”
We all spend a great deal of time and energy attacking imaginary enemies. I certainly do! Who are our imaginary enemies? The obstacles that are between us and the life we want. When we conceive of a desired outcome, we tend to focus our attention on what appears to be in our way. We try to figure out a way to overcome the perceived obstacle, and then we implement a plan. We work hard. We may struggle to overcome what seems to be working against us. Sometimes life feels like an uphill battle, with one obstacle after another presenting itself.
But what if the obstacle isn’t really there at all? What if we’ve created an enemy in our reality – a giant to be fought, when it is really just a windmill, sitting there? What if every obstacle to happiness and fulfillment in our life right now exists only in our perception?
I know, I know. Our mind will tell us that there are real and valid issues and problems to be overcome in life right now – a lack of resources, knowledge, money, time, the “right” people with the “right” connections. Our mind will tell us to be “realistic.” But what if our mind is wrong? Problems give the mind a great deal of power, after all. Obstacles and issues create lots and lots of thought. Imagine if you had nothing to overcome. What would your mind do with itself?
Imagine for a moment, that there is absolutely nothing keeping you from your dreams. Sure, you may not know exactly how you’re going to make them a reality. Your mind will want to make this another obstacle. But is it? We could simply ask our Higher Self and Spirit Guides to show us the next step, and then take that step. Not knowing the exact path from where we stand right now is a windmill. It is not a giant that we must battle.
What about the big “issues” looming in front of you – what if they did not exist? What would you do differently? How much of what you’d do differently is already available to you, right now?
Whatever we focus on, expands. Focus on obstacles, and they will grow until they are all that we can see. They will become huge and threatening, like giants. But focus on what we want to create, and obstacles turn into mere circumstances that dot the scenery of our lives. With spiritual guidance, we can simply keep putting one foot in front of the other, taking one step and then the next. Before we know it, we’ve walked through a field of windmills.
For the next day or two, notice when you focus on a problem or obstacle in your life. In those moments, remember that nothing is in your way. Don’t fight the windmills.
Blessings,
Andrea
Are you longing to create a business that is the expression of your truest Self? My friend Tom Volkar of Delightful Work is starting 5 Days of Authentic Business Discovery on September 29th. It may be the perfect way to discover your next step! Click here to view more details
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16 Responses to “Imaginary obstacles”
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Andrea,
I appreciate the mention of my program. There will be a whole lotta windmills being exposed and released within that work.
“Imagine for a moment, that there is absolutely nothing keeping you from your dreams.” Now that is a powerful visualization to fall to sleep with. I’ll use it for sweet dreams tonight.
Andrea, this post flowed beautifully. I could feel the peace in your words. Imagine if you had nothing to overcome. What would your mind do with itself? Great question. And your advice for the next day or two is well taken by this spiritual sojourner.
Blessings,
Christopher
Hi Andrea,
I think the root issue is that the mind craves “obstacles” so much. Let’s say I see no obstacles in my business development. It’s a new business, so there are a lot of room for growth, but I see it is just about doing one thing and then next, which may take some time in this physical world, but it’s fine — enjoy the process! Then I find my mind move on to find problems in other areas of my life. What about — my investment. Or social life. Or . . .
If it can’t find any obstacles, the mind may even dig up some old issues!!
Suffocating the mind with peace is kind of fun, though. Stock market crash? Oh. (Eating an apple) So many orders to fill that I can’t find time for myself? Oh. (Another bite of an apple) . . . you get the picture, right?
I recognize that my mind is a highly creative and imaginative one. It loves to create monsters that lurk in my closets, frights that hide beneath my bed and of course, fears that come out of nothing. I’ve been asking my mind to take a break, coaxing it to go to sleep. If it really needs to be busy, I’d rather it focus on visualizations of joy, peace and happy dreams.
Once more, I am so glad I stopped in. I have been on the road so much lately and I am tired, jet lagged, etc., whiny I know
But I was about to give in and go to bed when I opened your e-mail. I had to read it because it resonted with me. I’ve been fighting the imaginary obstacle some of late.
It’s funny how I sometimes lose sight of my own advice. You allowed me the opportunity to regain my perspective. Bless you Andrea! I will sleep so much better tonight. All is well and I am fine.
Peace to you. You make a difference! — jb
Hey , Andrea a great ‘calming’ post. I have had so many exciting things moving forward in my life lately, it’s easy to let the ‘ busy brain’ overwhelm!
I have been learning to let go and feel the flow.
My guides have been encouraging me to look up, breathe and follow the next little sign, then , as you said, move one foot one more step!
( kinda tricky , when you are a rather impatient type, , but so divine when I can full surrender to the journey!)
Cheers , Helen
Hey Andrea
As soon as I read about the knight fighting windmills thinking they were giants, I laughed. I can really relate to this as I have just come back from a wonderful trip, that went very differently from how I “wanted” it to be before I went away.
For the few days before, I fought and I fought these imaginary giants and eventually accepted and made the best of the situation. The situation ended up a lot better than I was capable of imagining beforehand and in hindsight, I got the trip I actually needed. I ended up not only walking through a field of windmills but did so with a hop, skip and a jump!
I’m reminded that there are no obstacles, only opportunities to learn and grow which take you forward to who you wish to become.
In love, light and abundance x x x
Andrea,
I remember reading somewhere (I believe it was Ray Kurzweil ?) that the animal aspect of the human brain is hard-wired to work as a creative problem solver. It is constantly scanning for potential problems to identify and respond to. Fear — fight or flight are what it DOES — and millions of years of evolution have outfitted the brain in this way with incredible success.
Transcending that IS possible with conscious awareness and practice — but it’s the higher facets of spirit, soul, faith that allow us NOT to fight.
Great post, great metaphor!
Slade
Reading this, you’ve reminded me of one of my favorite quotes:
I constantly remind myself that I am the creator of my life and it is largely through my perceptions of what is that I create it. I can choose to see everything in my way as a problem, or I can choose to see those things as merely objects along the path. The first way makes me tired and saps my energy; the second one is far less emotionally charged, more like, ‘huh…well lookey there…a pothole in my path…glad I saw that and didn’t twist my ankle in it…’
Great post!
I was raised with the thought of “Trials make you stronger” I used to believe all the suffering was for my good.
What the heck?
Two weeks ago, I realized that if I was a creator, I was creating all my own obsticles. Right?
When my windmills have been showing up, I’ve been focusing on returning to “light”. (Things are so scary in the light)
It really is opening things up for me.
Wow! I meant (Things AREN’T so scary in the light)
Maybe I need to spend a bit more time in the mind and clear that one up! LOL
Tom - isn’t it fun to take a “no obstacle” perspective? Glad you liked this post!
Christopher - thank you!
Akemi - I know, the mind is a great “finder” of obstacles. But if we meet this mental activity with detachment (”oh” is right!) then the obstacles lose all their power …
Evelyn - You know, you also get a huge adrenaline rush imagining scary things. We can get “high” on fear - I think that’s why people like scary movies. So the mind learns to derive a bit “hit” from fear and starts running all kinds of scenarios. Amazing how the mind entertains itself …
Jeff - I had to chuckle at your comment - I lose sight of my own advice all the time!!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Lola - How wonderful that you received exactly what you needed. You’re right, it’s all how we frame our experiences - obstacles or opportunities, it’s all up to us.
Slade - Thanks for adding that insight! I suspected we’re conditioned to always look for the next problem or obstacle … that definitely seems to be how the mind works for many of us. I guess overcoming this animal aspect is what developing consciousness is all about!
Suzanne - Ooooh, perfect quote. It’s true - we name it, and therefore decide what it’s going to be.
Wendy - Ah, the old “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” perspective … trial by fire, right? It’s amazing how this sort of thinking seeps into our lives from society and collective consciousness. We have to literally unplug ourselves from this kind of perspective - that can be really tough! You’re totally right, though. When we shine the light of awareness on this kind of programming, it loses all its oomph!
Blessings,
Andrea
Loved, loved, loved this blog Andrea!!! Incredible!
Thanks so much for sharing your insights and awareness!
Bev
Bev - thank you! So glad it resonated with you!
Blessings,
Andrea
[...] video that I discovered on The Fluent Self illustrated my last post about imaginary obstacles so perfectly that I just had to post it [...]
I completely agree, Andrea. I’ve actually found that the more I look at obstacles and see through them, they all prove to be fantasies, windmills with no substance. Are there obstacles? I don’t think there are!! How’s that for going out on a limb?