There Are No Such Thing as Obstacles

I was talking to a close friend and mentor of mine about my recent struggles. Long story short: I went to India to complete my Yoga Teacher Training and came back to no job, no responsibilities, and a world full of presence and bliss.

In the weeks following that trip, I experienced what it truly means to be at ease. I wasn’t striving for more. I felt open, aligned, and at peace with whatever the universe had in store next.

But after a few weeks in this beautiful, effortless state, things started to shift. Life moved again. I decided to return to being a high-performance athlete (for those who don’t know, I played NCAA beach volleyball and represented my country internationally but stopped playing about three years ago). My long-term boyfriend and I broke up. I started working again.

Out of all those changes, the return of volleyball into my life was the hardest to navigate. The heaviest. It brought back so much I hadn’t realized I was still carrying. Volleyball has a long and complex history in my life—I started playing when I was nine and continued for 19 years at the highest level. Over time, my sense of self-worth became deeply entangled with how I performed. So when I stepped back into training, that familiar self-doubt came roaring back.

A Wake-Up Call

Now for the juicy part. I shared all this with my mentor, and she simply said, “Okay, this is what you’re experiencing. Is it a big deal?”

I was a little thrown by the question. But then, after sitting with it, I said, “Yes—damn it—it is a big deal!”

In my head, I had reached such a beautiful state of peace—how could I go back to struggling when I know what joy and stillness feel like? I should be beyond this. I teach yoga and meditation. I’m supposed to know how to handle life with ease, right? Of course it’s a big deal.

She nodded and said, “Okay, it’s a big deal. So what does that mean?”

Trying to channel my higher self, I said something like, “Well, that’s life—it’s up and down like a wave. I’ll always have obstacles to overcome.”

Then she stopped me and said, “Wait a second. You said life is like a wave. When you’re in the water and waves are coming at you, do you think of them as obstacles you need to overcome?”

That moment landed somewhere deep inside me.

The Wave Is Not the Enemy

I had heard and even believed the idea that “everything just is.” That it’s not about fixing or fighting, but about presence and acceptance. But this wasn’t just a concept anymore—it became a knowing. When she asked me that question, it was like something clicked. She helped me feel it, not just understand it.

Life is like water. And maybe there are no real “obstacles” at all—only waves.

When we face difficulty, we often brace and resist. We think of it as an uphill battle that we need to win. But when you’re in the ocean and a wave is coming toward you, do you fight it? Or do you soften, push gently off the sand, and let yourself rise with it?

Even when the tide is strong or the wave is overwhelming, no one wins a fight against the sea.

In fact, if you ever get caught in a crashing wave as a surfer, you’re taught to go limp. Let it take you. If you fight it, you’ll exhaust yourself. But if you surrender, you’ll resurface. You’ll come back to the shore. The chaos always settles. That’s just the way it works.

Bringing This Into Daily Life

So how do we actually live this?

For me, it comes back to mindfulness. It’s about slowing down just enough to notice: What’s happening in my body right now? What thoughts are swirling? What emotion is visiting me? You don’t need to change it. Just become aware of it—like watching a wave approach on the horizon.

Can you feel it and name it without needing to fix or judge it?

Daily practices that help me stay in this space include meditation, conscious breathwork, walking without distraction, journaling, or simply placing my hand on my heart and asking, What’s here right now?

The more we build this muscle of awareness in calm moments, the more naturally it comes when the waters get rough. We stop panicking or resisting, and we start remembering: Oh right, this is just another wave.

Also, surrounding yourself with people who remind you of this truth—whether friends, mentors, teachers, or your own inner voice—can make a world of difference. You don’t have to ride these waves alone.

A Reflection for You

If this resonates, take a moment to pause and ask yourself:

🌀 What “wave” are you currently riding in your life? Can you stop fighting it and instead soften into it, trusting that it will pass—because it always does?

You’re not doing it wrong. You’re not behind. You’re just human. The waves will rise and fall. Let them.

If you're reading this, I love you :)

-Tia