OBSTACLE IS THE WAY(HANDBOOK FOR THE MODERN STOIC)




THE OBSTACLE IS THE WAY
As far back I can see in my life, it has always been chasing some goal or the other. Some of them have been silly, some slightly bigger. If I can summarise in a sentence then; my life has been, a story of mediocre existence punctuated by flashes of transient pleasure. As we grow older cynicism at times takes hold of you. The values that you had as a young person starts to get eroded and you start to realise and reflect on the prejudice in the world. By no standards, I think myself as a success story, but at the same time, aspiring working hard, and tying my happiness to an external result has been a repetitive cycle in my life. 
I am sure there is a better way to live and excel in life. We need to look at our value systems and the world around us, and despite all the negativity that we need to be fair, compassionate and virtuous. This is where I have found the Stoic way of thinking as a refuge for my own self-doubts and anxieties.  This is a very ancient school of thought but has stood the test of time. for thousands of years. The works of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus have been around for centuries and if anybody wants then a detailed study of these thinkers is highly recommended. Ryan Holiday has used these teachings to give us a very practical and useful set of books that to some extent can guide us in living a good and fulfilling life.


The first in this series is titled “The Obstacle is the way” is an excellent and engaging read. Here the concepts of stoicism are used to give us a blueprint regarding overcoming the problems and obstacles that we may face in life. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius is quoted in the initial part which sets the tone of the book.

Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD)

THE IMPEDIMENT TO ACTION ADVANCES ACTION.


WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY BECOMES THE WAY

Whatever may be the obstacle our response is always of fear, confusion, depression or anger (again a form of fear). However, in the course of the book, we are introduced to the discipline of perception, action and will. They are the three ways to not only survive but thrive in any challenging environment.

PERCEPTION:
The discipline of perception helps us seeing things as they are without unnecessary emotion attached to it. Real power is keeping our emotions in even keel, and realising that only you decide how an external event will affect you. As the author says we need to cultivate tranquil courage in tumult. At times we just need to shake off the bad stuff around us and keep trudging ahead. In any situation, we need to look objectively around us at things we can and cannot control and not fuss too much about what is beyond our control. This though simple is far from easy as we need to constantly train our mental muscles to look at things in the correct perspective.

ACTION:
After we access the obstacle as to what it actually is, we need to move in the domain of action. Now the time of thinking and contemplating is over. We need to act with all our resolve and do all that is possible. The discipline of action asks us to give our best in all our endeavours devoid of any unnecessary emotion. If you try you always have a chance, and if you have a chance give it all you got. The author places premium on persistence, and fortitude. Incremental gains are better than no gains and we are asked to value progress over perfection. Living in the present is very important and so is trying to avoid thinking too much, and expecting the world to be fair.

WILL:
The most interesting discipline, I found is the discipline of will, which the author claims to be our final trump card. Here unlike what we may expect, the nature of true will is explained in terms of humility, resilience and flexibility. Words, like having gracious ambition and smiling tender endurance, is something that we need to inculcate within ourselves. After doing all, we at times have to keep plodding ahead. , Bear and forbear is the path for us. Personally, the concept of AMOR FATI   (love of fate) was extremely insightful. Here we learn to face adversities with unflinching cheerfulness and then proceed to do what we can do in those situations. Adversity should be the fuel for our endeavours. We should not merely face them with indifference and acceptance but with certain kind of love towards our destiny or fate. Towards the end, we are asked to meditate on our own mortality, and remind our self the transitory nature of life itself. Embracing the precarious nature of our own existence can be empowering and exhilarating.

As I finished the book the feeling of being charged up to take on any obstacle with calm confidence was felt by me. I felt that I will be able to take any problem head-on. However, if there was a single emotion that I felt then it was hope. The hope of having the courage, to face our own demons. Of having a better mental framework to handle the obstacles that destiny has in store for us. How will the fates transpire against our efforts is something that we do not have control of, and after everything, we still do down hopefully we do so with a smile in our face and serenity in our heart.




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