23May
Life throws obstacles at us constantly - internal doubts, external pressures, old habits, and emotional blocks. Does that sound familiar to you?
At EquallyU, we believe that real change starts from within - and that the path forward is made smoother when we understand the nature of the obstacles in our way, and how to navigate them with intention and support. But what if we viewed these not as roadblocks, but as essential stepping stones on the path to conscious, meaningful change?
Working with a young person recently got me thinking about how we put barriers up in front of our goals for many different reasons. It takes action and habits in our toolkit to automatically go to and push through the barriers - without having to think. A bit like driving a car, we have brakes in our car and a steering wheel as our tools if we need to avoid an accident, and it's an automatic response. There's no time for thinking about it.
Here are five core insights from the Art of Conscious Change to help you recognise and rise above your obstacles:
1. Obstacle: Lack of Direction
Without clarity around your deepest values and intentions, you drift. You’re more likely to react to life than shape it.
The Shift: Ask yourself regularly: What do I truly want? What kind of person do I want to be? Your values are not goals - they're the compass that helps you navigate challenges with purpose. Reconnecting with them grounds your actions and rewires your brain for positive change.
2. Obstacle: Negative Focus
Our minds naturally dwell on what’s wrong—a survival instinct gone rogue. This "negativity bias" fuels stress and keeps us stuck.
The Shift: Begin to consciously cultivate your inner and outer resources. Notice what brings you joy, calm, and connection—even the small things. This trains your nervous system to feel safe and shifts your mindset from survival to growth.
3. Obstacle: Disconnection from Others
When we isolate or wear emotional armour, our relationships suffer, and so do we.
The Shift: Nurture vulnerability and repair. Real connection grows when we risk showing up authentically, express our needs, and listen deeply. Healthy relationships become lifelines during challenging transitions.
4. Obstacle: Avoiding Emotions
Many of us try to "fix" or escape our feelings. But emotions denied don’t disappear; they grow louder.
The Shift: Learn to befriend your emotions. Sit with them, name them, feel them in your body, and resist the urge to judge or solve. This process fosters emotional resilience and liberates energy trapped in unresolved pain.
5. Obstacle: Disembodiment
In a world that prizes thinking over feeling, we often lose touch with the wisdom of our bodies.
The Shift: Get into your body. Your gut, heart, and breath carry deep intuitive signals. Becoming embodied helps you respond! Not react - to life. True change doesn’t just happen in the mind; it’s felt and lived through the body.
Why It Matters
Acknowledging obstacles is not weakness - it’s the beginning of transformation. When we face what’s holding us back with curiosity and compassion, we create space for growth, healing, and genuine change. You dont know it yet, but it also empowers us to contribute more meaningfully to our relationships, workplaces, and communities. Otherwise nothing will change, is that what you want for the rest of your life?
This is particularly important when on the employment seeking journey. You can blame all of the missed opportunities, the unhelpful employers, the lack of results through a black hole of sending off job applications with no response, not getting an interview or applying for 100's of jobs. But there is one stop you need to look at - you. What are you doing that is holding you back and you don't even realise it? Is it because you aren't listening to good advice - or on the flipside listening to bad advice from others who have not walked the walk before.
At EquallyU, we work with individuals and practitioners who help others who want to lead purposeful lives, build emotional resilience, and support others. Because when we overcome obstacles consciously, we don’t just change ourselves—we change the world around us.
The only way out is through - and you don’t have to walk it alone.
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