Marcus Aurelius on obstacles: raw material to help us achieve our goals
Guidance for our digital age
Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome from 161 to 180, wrote about obstacles. His thoughts can be an inspiration for us today in our hectic digital age as we are struggling, in many cases, to overcome obstacles that are making our digital journey long and hard.
Photo by Russ Collins, provencebeyond.com
"Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it—turns it to its purpose, incorporates it into itself—so, too, a rational being can turn each setback into raw material and use it to achieve its goal."
Together, we are learning how to turn obstacles into raw material that will help us reach our goals.
What do people see as their primary obstacles—their toughest practical challenges today? A quick poll I ran in February showed that cultivating a collaborative mindset and helping people find what they need top the list of obstacles: What 112 people around the world had to say.
I then conducted a short online crowd-sourcing initiative where I asked people to share their experiences regarding the collaborative mindset challenge.
"Humans are lost in the digital conversation. We need to get back to basics."
Comments from the brainstorming show that we need to find ways to bring more human kindness, pleasure and joy to the workplace. We need to scale working out loud across organizations. We need to focus differently, simplify work, and agree on purpose to break through the "no time, no resources" obstacle. The story is here: Real Voices on the Collaborative Mindset.
Photo by myself in the Eglise Saint-Eustache in Paris.
Given these obstacles, how do people perceive the potential of their digital work environment today?
Recommended reading
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
A source of wisdom relevant and helpful in our digital age when speed and immediacy are considered essential.
I have it in paperback at home and on my iPad and iPhone so I can dip into Meditations whenever and wherever I wish. Even 60 seconds of reading brings new perspectives. Goodreads.
