When starting a new path whether it is a new career, creative project, or personal journey, you’re bound to run into some obstacles along the way. Obstacles are a normal part of any journey. They can actually help you improve your craft if you’re willing to embrace it and have the patience to push through. Dead ends, by contrast, can waste your time and sap your motivation if you don't recognize them for what they truly are.
Freelance writers, like other freelancers too, often rely on online platforms for opportunities. It’s essential to assess whether a platform presents obstacles or is guiding you toward a dead end.
Avoid wasting your time and resources on a freelance platform to the point where you give up on your creative dreams.
All paths can lead to obstacles or dead ends. Don’t let the fear of either stop you from moving forward or enjoying the journey; instead, let discernment be your greatest weapon against whatever life throws your way.
It’s not just in the freelance world or creative careers where you’ll encounter dead ends and obstacles; they can pop up in all areas of life.
In a corporate environment, an obstacle might show up as a tough day or a challenging project that takes extra time and effort to complete. It could also involve pushing yourself to perform better or doing what’s necessary to earn that raise or move toward the position you want. A dead end happens when you look around at what your company offers, not just for you, but for other loyal employees; and realize there are no promotions or roles that excite you, will help you grow, or provide more financial security.
When you reach this point, no matter how hard you work, your situation is unlikely to change because it is out of your control.
Accept the dead end and reroute.
A blockage is something you can overcome with time, patience, improved skills, and a fresh perspective.
On a road leading to infinite possibilities you can push through all the obstacles thrown your way, you can overcome what feels like the impossible. New opportunities start to stream in or suddenly you get all the projects you want. You can stay in your creative flow and continue your journey with ease, passion, and in a financially sustainable way.
"How do you know that you are on your Path? because it disappears. You are going into the unknown which is called growth and sometimes the only single source of strength you can rely on is your faith." - David Whyte
A dead end can seem very similar to a blockage at first glance, the difference however, you already know how it ends.
Tackle dead ends by rerouting and exploring a different path. If you need instant relief for money or feel your passion burning with nowhere to go, just keep pushing forward and walk the path of the unknown.
Use Discernment: Identify the Difference between Obstacles and Blockages Before They Slow You Down
Discernment is where feelings and logic collide.
If the road you’re walking only stirs up feelings of anxiety and demotivation, making you want to crawl under a rock, it’s likely not just an obstacle—it’s probably heading toward a dead end.
Obstacles come with choices, opportunities, and different ways to overcome them.
They present challenges you’ll want to take on because you can stay in your creative flow. Feel confident in bettering your skills, all while envisioning the potential desired outcomes and working towards it.
In contrast, a dead end feels just as it sounds: dead. It’s barren, like an endless desert stretching out before you without any water. You’ll see others around you wandering aimlessly, all searching for the same elusive pond.
Dead ends frequently occur when freelancing on online platforms. In many cases, the platform or company is in a similar situation, simply hoping for clients to come their way, much like waiting for rain in a desert.
An obstacle is within your control; if you change your approach, the outcome is likely to change. A dead end, on the other hand, is out of your control, and no matter how hard you try or how much you overextend yourself, the outcome remains the same. The reality is that there may be no opportunities left to pursue or gain from that situation.
Don’t let obstacles steal your smile, and never stop pursuing your dreams just because you discover that what you thought was an obstacle is actually a dead end all along. Change is much more durable than standing still.
It’s more natural to move in an unknown direction than to remain stagnant in a place that leads nowhere.
If you can’t change your circumstances, focus on changing yourself. Start crafting a new path that will lead you to doing what you love again—and with a smile.
I don’t think dead ends can be avoided, sometimes in life, you just have to endure it for the journey and what you learn along the way. Be grateful for the opportunities that led you to where you are at the moment and keep the hope that a dead end is truly a new beginning waiting.
There are infinite possibilities and outcomes for any obstacle you face along the way, take a turn on a road that feels good to journey on. It doesn’t mean that the only road worth walking is one filled with euphoria. Even the perfect path leading to your most desired outcomes will have its ups and downs, balancing both good and bad moments.
Obstacles are essential for growth and shaping us into more resilient individuals. However, when feelings of hopelessness and relentless effort without success hit you so intensely that they completely halt your progress, it’s time to jump and seek a new path.
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