Ling Zhang
- Jul 2, 2022
- 3 min read

Turn Obstacles into Stepping Stones

Turn Problems into Opportunities - Break Through External Obstacles (1)

A path without obstacles is not a path of growth

Technology advances by solving problems; innovation happens by breaking through obstacles; a person grows by taking winds of drawbacks and turning failures to winning opportunities.

Problems, obstacles and drawbacks are everywhere all the times. Look at things around you and you use every day, fridge, iPhone, laptop, cars, or airplane, etc. are they not the solutions developed by solving problems? The inventors turned the problems into great opportunities, people turn obstacles into stepping stones.

Everyone has problems, so does every family, every company and every country. Problems actually trigger creativity and progress. Problems can transform lives also destroy lives. The difference is on how you see and handle problems when they hit you.

You are on the journey to Grow to Your Fullest, Step 3, Break through External Obstacles. We learned Step 1, Find Your Signature Vision and Step 2, Conquer Internal Barriers.

If you win over yourselves then you are already in a position of winning over any obstacles from the world because we are our own biggest enemy. Now let’s learn how to conquer obstacles, resistance, hurts and challenges from outside world.

Once you succeed in breaking your hard shell, winning over your personal barriers, you come out to a world, full of goodness and evil, sunshine and storms, love and hurts, opportunities and problems. Step 3 is to get through these barriers such as rejections, persecutions, jealousies, distractions, cynicism and criticism, etc. They can be high mountains, deep valleys, or roaring waters of persecution and storms of trials. On the way, you have to conquer each of them to achieve your fullness in life. You have to learn mastering the right tactics to fight against the odds of unexpected roadblocks before you are able to bud, bloom, and bear fruits.

Facing those challenges, you cannot fight them alone; neither can you have the strength all the time to be perseverance. You cannot live out your fullness without partnering with a divine force, God, as HE is the one who planted the seeds of your fullness so the initiator of your fullness also knows the path to your fullness. You have to be guided by Him on your journey to reach the destination of fullness. And it’s written, you made known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:11).

To successfully break through external obstacles, you have to first understand growth paradox, the area you grow is also the area that stops you growing; second build a winning foundation, your character, competence and confidence; third embrace six elements of faith in your journey (refer to the image above)

Let's end the post with a parable so you know how to turn obstacles into stepping stones.

Once upon a time, a donkey fell into a deep well. The owner could not pull it out no matter how hard he tried. Sadly he decided to bury it alive. He shoveled dirt into the well and it fell on the back of donkey, immediately the donkey shaken off the dirt and stepped on it and stepped up. The more dirt the man poured in, the higher the donkey rose. Finally it went out of the well into a green pasture. Like the donkey, turn all your obstacles into stepping stones to reach your vision. Turn all your hurts into shining stars so you can vigorously bud, bloom beautifully and harvest sweet fruits abundantly. Remember that a path without obstacles is not the path to grow.

In the next post, I will discuss about Growth Paradox so you know how to turn obstacles into stepping stones and grow to your fullest.

If you want to have a group of people to support so you can share your roadmap, goals, celebrate your wins together; please join Grow to Your Fullest Circle.

*** Please DOWLOAD the FREE document, Find your signature vision questionnaires so you use it to help you find your life vision and mission.