Do you have 
any obstacles standing in your way? If you’re not getting the results in life you’re hoping for, maybe there’s an obstacle you need to overcome. Before any of us can take on an obstacle that’s holding us back, we’ll need to identify it and get clear on what we’re up against.
I just became aware of an obstacle in my own life. For quite a long time, I’ve felt extremely self-conscious in many group settings. Not surprisingly, I have a difficult time recognizing people visually.. I’ve felt terribly embarrassed to say to people I’d already met on numerous occasions, “I’m sorry, who are you?”
Granted, I’m legally blind and you’d think the white cane I used to carry or the guide dog I have now would tip people off. I just can’t see well enough to tell who’s who. On the other hand, when I do know someone pretty well, I can recognize them by their voice, stature, etc. The problem is compounded by the fact I’ve been trying to fake it for years. So people think I can see them good enough to know who they are.
I’ve decided to tackle this obstacle because I enjoy talking and connecting with people. My knack for connecting is great for sharing my message of waking people up to their impact on other people. That is, unless I’m standing awkwardly in a corner by myself because I hate to ask people who they are. Business mixers are especially uncomfortable for me. I can’t even cheat like other people and read nametags.
So I talked with John to try to work through this obstacle. He encouraged me saying my new guide dog is a people magnet. He said people will want to come over and say “Hi” because of her. He was right… sort of. At a Chamber of Commerce lunch last week, I was having a nice conversation with a pleasant man when a lady joined us. I didn’t know how long she’d been standing there when I finally noticed, so I said, “I just noticed you joined us. My name is Rena,” and I offered my hand to shake. She limply grasped my hand with her head bowed down toward my dog.
She answered, “I just came over to see the dog.” I thought she was joking, so I asked her name. She replied, “No, really, I just came over to see the dog,” and she left.
So far I’ve learned that my being bold will not compensate for someone else’s total lack of social skills, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.
Your obstacles are probably pretty different than mine (unless you happen to be blind, too). It doesn’t matter, though. We all have obsacles to overcome. Here’s a few tips you might find helpful as you work on your own obstacles:
1. Get clear on what the problem is.
2. Know why it’s worth overcoming.
3. If the first method you try doesn’t work, keep trying different things until you find what works.
What kinds of obstacles are you dealing with?
