Roadblock or a Stepping Stone – Overcome Any Setback on Your Way to Success
Reflect on a time when you were enthusiastically working on a project. Pick something personal like renovating the kitchen, buying a new car, picking up Christmas gifts for family and friends, or maybe writing a book, starting a business, or trying to find a new job. Can you remember an instance when you hit a roadblock? Everything seemed to be going smoothly, and all of a sudden, something stopped your progress. Was it only once? Or the moment you overcame one roadblock, another popped up?
Well… it happened to me so many times (true!). In the past, very often, I would fight back the roadblock by trying to remove it, or go over it, or go around it… And every time, the result was pretty much time same – I would spend too much time, effort, and energy. I would feel exhausted to the bone, and would almost immediately hit a new roadblock…
Until recently, when it hit me! These were not roadblocks! These were not “placed” on my way so I could “struggle” my way out. Not at all!
These roadblocks were appearing on my way for me, so I can:
(1) Stop my momentum,
(2) Reflect on what, where, how, and why I am going, and
(3) See that there is actually a better and easier way to reach my final destination
From a Roadblock to a Place to Have a Break
More than a year ago, my car broke on the highway. Since I needed a car to go to work, drive kids to school, do shopping, and so on, I decided to purchase a new one. After some research, I decided to order a hybrid.
Excited and sure of my purchase, I entered the car dealership ready to leave with a set of car keys in my hand. After all, not getting a new car would mean a big inconvenience for my entire family.
As positive and as sure I was in my success, within the first few minutes of my conversation with the sales representative, my dream was crashed. I had to wait 3 to 6 months for the vehicle to arrive. And by the way, this was not a firm promise. In fact, they couldn’t promise anything. They couldn’t even promise the make or price of the vehicle I would get at the end.
Yup, you got it. I hit a roadblock.
Yup, you are right again, I tried to fight back the roadblock.
I decided to purchase the car and think positively. I was so sure that I could simply invest my energy into manifesting the vehicle to come in 3 months. My attention was automatically placed on the car rather than on myself. Affirming that my car comes early worked like a magic – the car did not come early.
How did the affirmation work?
Let me decode the affirmation “My car comes early” and show you that it really worked as designed.
Remember that we have the power to change only (and only) our own life and life experiences. We cannot change anything else. We can attract one thing or another but cannot control what is outside of us. Every statement we make and repeat over and over again (in words or thoughts) reflects back to us in terms of our expriences.
“My car comes early” does not, in any way, affect the car itself. Whenever I repeated this, I was actually confirming over and over again that I do not have the car right now. The more I concentrated on the lack of a vehicle, the more I amplified my lack of a vehicle. Got the idea?
How did I overcome this roadblock
6 months passed quickly, and I contacted the dealership for an update and received an apologetic email that the vehicle would not come for at least 6 to 9 more months. Roadblock! I hit the same roadblock again.
Huh? But how? I was so positive! Surely, it wasn’t me doing this to myself. It must’ve been the Universe placing these roadblocks so I would have something to overcome (laugh with me if you want).
Recently, I read Sara Landon’s book, The Wisdom of the Council. One of the pieces of wisdom that stuck in my head immediately was that “things don’t happen TO you, they happen FOR you.” Wise and true words.
Suddenly, I realized that the true roadblock was not the delay of my new car but my limiting beliefs, way of thinking, and attitude. Now, I saw what really was going on in my life. The roadblock was there for me, and for a good reason. This was a great opportunity for me to clean my own road and continue my journey rejuvenated and lighthearted.
So, the first thing I did was to stop in my tracks and use the roadblock as a place to sit down, catch my breath, and relax.
I started reflecting on what I was doing up to now and quickly realized that my attention was on the lack of a vehicle. I laughed at myself for this wholeheartedly.
From a Place to Have a Break to a Stepping Stone
Taking a break from chasing the car was well-needed. I took some time to discover which old limiting beliefs were preventing me from manifesting my new car.
To do so, I used my journal to answer the question: Why do I deserve my new car?
As I concentrated on the “why I do”, all answers came as “why I do NOT”. Bingo! I got my real roadblocks exposed.
As it turned out, I had some old fears running the show. I started working on releasing these. I affirmed that it was easy for me to let go of the past, that I forgive myself and others, and that I love the feeling of freedom.
Next, I started visualizing myself in the new car. In the beginning, it was very hard for me to imagine the feelings I didn’t have. To overcome this roadblock, I used my journal to answer the question, “Imagine that the car of your dreams was yours already, how would you feel?”
This simple question helped me tremendously. I visualized the feelings and the overjoy of using my reliable modern new car. I imagined how it would smell, the steering wheel with my hands, the comfort of the driving seat, and so on. Even, I imagine how proud I would feel for manifesting such a beautiful and well-functioning car. I kept repeating this exercise daily until it all felt real.
Moreover, I changed my affirmation to “I deserve my new car. I feel the joy of driving my new car. I allow myself to accept my new vehicle.” That is, I switched my attention from the lack of a car to me deserving, accepting, allowing, and enjoying.
The results
As you can imagine, soon after my mental and emotional work, I received an email: “Your vehicle order has now been fulfilled.”
Not only I am getting “my beautiful new car that suits all my needs” (from “I Can Do It” by Louise Hay), but I also cleared some big old limiting beliefs 😉
That is, by turning my attention towards myself, I turned the roadblock into a stepping stone. I managed to reach my goal easier and faster, and in a way that was best for me.
Love the idea? Here is the summary for you:
- The roadblock – if you feel you are hitting the same roadblock over and over again, use it a sign to stop whatever you are doing
- The place to have a break – instead of fighting back the roadblock, use it as a place to sit down and reflect on your beliefs, attitudes, and thoughts
- The stepping stone – use this rock on the road as a stepping stone so you can get to your destination easier and faster
