What obstacles in your life look really big? If you understand the obstacle, it is easier to minimize. Recently while staying at a friend’s cabin up in the mountains we decided to do something we had not done before. In the evening we hung a sheet from a rope tied between two trees and projected music DVDs on the sheet. It was a relaxing way to spend the evening and enjoy some of our favorite music.
At one point a moth was drawn to the light of the projector and flew right in front of the lens. One of the women watching the video seeing the huge shadow go across the screen jumped and yelled “oh my gosh are birds dive bombing us?” The guy closest to the projector had seen the moth and started laughing. We all had a good laugh when he explained what had happened.
What are the things in your life that you allow to act like a projector, what makes obstacles appear larger than they really are? Is it worry, self-doubt or maybe focusing on what could go wrong? Have you ever heard someone say “if only”? Maybe you’ve even said it. If only I had more money, if only I had more time, I was younger, older, thinner, taller, Blah, Blah, Blah… None of these obstacles are really holding you back from following your dream. It is your perception of these “problems.” Have you allowed obstacles to be magnified? Just like the projector made the small moth appear to be a large bird, fear, worry and doubt can magnify your challenges.
The first step is to see the obstacle for what it really is. Most obstacles, like the moth, are really not very big. Once you understand the obstacle then you can make an action plan how to overcome it. You may decide that it really is something small that you can ignore like my friend’s moth. You may decide that it’s something that can be addressed with minimal effort. Or you may decide that it’s a larger challenge that will require an action plan to overcome. In any case you can overcome it.
We have a friend with a six-month-old granddaughter. A couple of weeks ago grandma bought her a stuffed blue elephant. As is typical at her age, everything she picks up goes in her mouth. Seeing that I was reminded of the question “how do you eat an elephant… one bite at a time?”
I suggest that you analyze your obstacles and put a plan in place to overcome them. If your obstacles are small like the moth move forward now! If the obstacle requires action to overcome, put a plan in place and take the first bite today!
