Kay:
Hey there Questers and welcome back. It’s Thursday, January 14th, two weeks into the year, and my sweet daughter Violet’s third birthday. It’s episode 269 coming at you today and we’ve got a Marcus Aurelius quote.
Shi:
Alright, Marcus Aurelius tells us, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
Shi:
So Marcus Aurelius is a historical figure. He was a Roman Emperor from the year 161 to 180 and it seems so weird to talk about years in that way, but he’s probably most well known as a Stoic philosopher. He was one of the “good Kings” in the line of five emperors in Rome before their eventual collapse. One of the last few rulers who really grabbed onto this Stoic way of life and he was one of the last to reign over an age of peace although there was a lot of war and strife in his reign at the time. But why he has come into our awareness most recently is because Kay and I have this funny thing happen to us where historical figures seem to pop up in our lives and won’t leave us alone until we go down rabbit holes and research them. So, we like to imagine that they are somehow spiritually connected to us. So, Marcus Aurelius is one of those people for me this year – he’s popped into my subconscious a few times, and hasn’t left me alone. So, I went down the rabbit hole of learning about him and, of course, brought it forward to Kay. Stoicism is really this philosophy of having values and morality outside of a government institution that makes you act good, to keep a perspective, to stay humble. All things that we’re preaching about here in personal growth and development…
Kay:
Just got buried for 2,000 years.
Shi:
…from some of the OG members.
Kay:
Yes. Well, as he says here that, “Impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” So, let’s talk about this a little bit because an impediment to action for most of us turns up as a sign that says STOP!
Shi:
HALT!
Kay:
Halt! Do not go further.
Shi:
Right.
Kay:
It’s like, I’m imagining the caution triangle with the exclamation point in the middle. You all know which one I’m talking about.
Shi:
It’s got an emoji.
Kay:
So, something difficult comes along and you say, well, then that means that this is not the right path. But oftentimes those obstacles are put in our way and, God, I can only tell you this from freaking painful experiences, because you are meant to go over it and learn something about yourself that will help you on the path you are attempting to get on. It sounds so cliché, but my goodness we’ve lived that time and time again.
Shi:
We really have, and it’s through it that ends up being the thing that gets you to it. That’s what Marcus is trying to tell us right here that the “Impediment to action advances action.” If you think about I’m going from point A to point B and I’m traveling on that road, but on that road, there is a log in-between, an impediment if you will. Well, what you would do is remove the log. You would face the impediment, you would deal with the impediment and you would get it out of the way, or you would get through it so that you could get to it on the other side, onto point B. So, when we take it abstract in this way we’re like, of course, you clear the road, and you keep going. But emotionally in our life, when the road has clutter or something happens or something gets right in the way, you imagine that visual of seeing the big dream goal and then the huge boulder falls in front of it and you’re like NO! It doesn’t mean you’re not meant for that goal. It just means part of life is the giant boulder and if you really want what’s on the other side of it and you’ll find a way to get through it.
Kay:
Oftentimes when you get to that other side too you realize: shoot, the dream that I wanted all along actually required a lot of knowledge and rock climbing. If I didn’t have that boulder in the way and didn’t learn how to climb that freaking rock, I would never be prepared or equipped for what this new journey has for me to handle. So, those stumbling blocks along the way are not the yellow caution sign with the halt that says go back. I’m also imagining what’s the noise, like, HALT!
Shi:
Yeah.
Kay:
Halt!
Shi:
Whoop, whoop, whoop!
Kay:
Yes, it’s not telling you to turn in the opposite direction. Remember beware, just means to be aware it doesn’t mean to stop moving forward.
Shi:
Alright. So, to remind you of what Marcus Aurelius told us, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
Kay:
Alright gang, from the Philosopher King himself, you’ve got a #ThoughtfulThursday Quest! We made you work it yesterday, and today we want you to think about it. Think into this question: How can you utilize the impediment currently standing in your way to accelerate your impact for the future? Are you ready?
Kay & Shi:
Let’s quest!
