At many occasions, you will be told by other people or by circumstances what cannot do. You’ll be surprised to know that listening to them will actually do you more good than harm.
We all want to accomplish greater things in our lives. One of the biggest needs that millennials have today is the need to make a mark- to leave a legacy. Everyone wants to reach for the stars and it very much feels that we can.
And then we meet that one person, or hit that first roadblock.
All of a sudden you have colleagues, friends, enemies, your bank account or your own self telling you what you can and cannot do. Next thing you know, the stars aren’t as close as they once felt. What do we do when we hit situations like this? Do we stop reaching so high and just slow down or do we ignore all the road signs and race full speed ahead?
I don’t want to be the one who tells you which path to take because only you can answer that for yourself. I will tell you however that hitting roadblock is part of the process and everyone will and will have to go through them. It’s important that we hear people and circumstance tell us that we cannot pursue our dreams.
Here’s how hitting roadblocks in our path to purpose and success actually brings you to greater heights. There are three parts to this process- the part where we say “I can’t do it,” “I can do it” and “I will do it.”
“I can’t do it.”
In all times I’ve been told what I can’t do, I actually listened and heard people out because they could be right. We need the wisdom to discern whether those roadblocks are wrong or right and the guts to shut out those we know are wrong, but when the roadblocks are telling the truth, there’s no shutting that out.
There is nothing wrong about not being able to do somethings. What brings us down is what we do with our limitations. Do we ignore them, pretend they aren’t there or do we find a work around? Telling ourselves things we cannot do are part of the process. The question is what do we do after finding out what delimits us.
Most people will throw in the towel, but to face the threshhold of bottlenecks and find a way to work around or work through them is already half of the battle.
“I can do it.”
After figuring out what the things we cannot do are, the next thing we need to find out is the way that we are going to get things done. Do you need to learn new skills, partner with someone who can do what you can’t or just stick it out and muscle your way through your weaknesses?
When you see limitations and dead ends, they aren’t indicators that the game is over. They are simply indicators that you are alive. Not everything gets handed out on a silver platter. You have to fight your way through circumstances, strategize, train, improve. Do whatever you can, but whatever you do don’t quit.
“I will do it.”
Getting through the “I can do it” phase is not the end. We can find work arounds, strategies and solutions, but until we get things done your goals will never come to pass. Get out of that conference room, put those plans into action and execute.
It will always feel like your plan isn’t working out the way that it should, but that’s okay. As you hit more roadblocks continue to find those “I can’t do it’s” and turn them into a strong and compelling “I can do it!”
Dreams will be hard to fulfill, but God promises to us that where we fall short, He does the rest. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
What are some of the roadblocks you are facing today? Have you listened to them?
If they are legitimate, how can you work around or work through them?
Do you have a plan of action to start doing what you can do?
