--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you focus on the obstacles, then you…" description: "\"If you focus on the obstacles, then you give them more power.\" — Ralph Marston" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/ralph-marston-2044_adversity_if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-g_1043908.png" --- # If you focus on the obstacles, then you give them more… ![“If you focus on the obstacles, then you give them more power.” quote by Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/ralph-marston-2044_adversity_if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-g_1043908.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/ralph-marston-2044_adversity_if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-g_1043908.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/ralph-marston-2044_adversity_if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-g_1043908.png) > “If you focus on the obstacles, then you give them more power.” [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on problems amplifies them, while attention on solutions reduces their impact. **In simple terms:** Focus on obstacles gives them power. Key Takeaway Shift focus to solutions. Themes mindset problem solving attention empowerment Mood analytical encouraging Type motivational practical When to use this quote - project management - personal challenges - conflict resolution Key Concepts Cognitive bias psychology of focus Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles do you amplify by focusing on them? - How can you redirect attention? A Different Perspective Ignoring obstacles can be risky if they’re ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [If you focus on the obstacles, then you give them more power. Instead focus on your purpose, on your most authentic and fundamental intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-give-them-more-power-instead/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [There are very real obstacles and challenges to any course of action. And there's no need to add to them, by making up obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challenges-to-any-course-of-action/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [It is important to have determination and optimism and patience. If you lack patience, even when you face some small obstacle, you lose courage.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/it-is-important-to-have-determination-and-optimism-and-patience-if/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“How could we have achieved the set-goal, without endurance to the end?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/how-could-we-have-achieved-the-set-goal-without-endurance-to-the-end/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“When you encounter obstacles, don’t turn your back on them. Face them, confront them and your will see them dissolving in front of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roopleen/when-you-encounter-obstacles-don-t-turn-your-back-on-them-face-them/) Roopleen > [Persons who have a strong sense of efficacy deploy their attention and effort to the demands of the situation and are spurred by obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/persons-who-have-a-strong-sense-of-efficacy-deploy-their-attention/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Just because the road ahead is long, is no reason to slow down. Just because there is much work to be done, is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/just-because-the-road-ahead-is-long-is-no-reason-to-slow-down-just/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [It was courage, faith, endurance and a dogged determination to surmount all obstacles that built this bridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-watson/it-was-courage-faith-endurance-and-a-dogged-determination-to-surmount/) [Thomas J. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-watson/) > [Adversity is an effective, thorough and highly personalized teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/adversity-is-an-effective-thorough-and-highly-personalized-teacher/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Start marching forward, even when into the new and unknown, and don't be deterred by obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-koller/start-marching-forward-even-when-into-the-new-and-unknown-and-don-t/) [Daphne Koller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-koller/) > [Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all, other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obstacles-can-t-stop-you-problems-can-t-stop-you-most-of-all-other/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Don’t just sit around raising questions and pointing out obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/whatever-the-problem-be-part-of-the-solution-don-t-just-sit-around/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [An obstacle is often a stepping stone... Things that appear to be obstacles are often helpful in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/an-obstacle-is-often-a-stepping-stone-things-that-appear-to-be/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [All great undertakings are achieved through mighty obstacles. Keep up the deepest mental poise. Take not even the slightest notice of what puerile creatures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-great-undertakings-are-achieved-through-mighty-obstacles-keep-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## More by Ralph Marston > [When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/when-was-the-last-time-you-spent-a-quiet-moment-just-doing-nothing/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [When the path becomes difficult, that's no reason to give up. In fact, it means you're making real progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/when-the-path-becomes-difficult-that-s-no-reason-to-give-up-in-fact/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [In the midday sun, a bright light will be barely noticed. Yet in the darkest night, even the smallest light can make an enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/in-the-midday-sun-a-bright-light-will-be-barely-noticed-yet-in-the/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Make the decision to love this day, this place, this moment, this special experience of life with the people around you. And there will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/make-the-decision-to-love-this-day-this-place-this-moment-this/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Adversity is an effective, thorough and highly personalized teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/adversity-is-an-effective-thorough-and-highly-personalized-teacher/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Problems, weaknesses, setbacks, regrets and mistakes teach you if you're willing to learn, or they punish you if you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/problems-weaknesses-setbacks-regrets-and-mistakes-teach-you-if-you-re/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Live your days on the positive side of life, in tune with your most treasured values. And in each moment you'll have much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/live-your-days-on-the-positive-side-of-life-in-tune-with-your-most/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Just because the road ahead is long, is no reason to slow down. Just because there is much work to be done, is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/just-because-the-road-ahead-is-long-is-no-reason-to-slow-down-just/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [If you so choose, each day can be filled with even more joy than the one before. If you so choose, even the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/if-you-so-choose-each-day-can-be-filled-with-even-more-joy-than-the/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [When you can clearly see yourself being there, you can see much more clearly how to get there. You can imagine the path to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/when-you-can-clearly-see-yourself-being-there-you-can-see-much-more/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [It doesn't matter how much you want. What really matters is how much you want it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/it-doesn-t-matter-how-much-you-want-what-really-matters-is-how-much/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Though the universe is delightfully complex, life, at its heart, is not particularly complicated. Live true to who you are and though it won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/though-the-universe-is-delightfully-complex-life-at-its-heart-is-not/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [There are very real obstacles and challenges to any course of action. And there's no need to add to them, by making up obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challenges-to-any-course-of-action/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Those who are passionate about what they do have an advantage that is nearly impossible to overcome. In passion there is energy, creativity, resilience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/those-who-are-passionate-about-what-they-do-have-an-advantage-that-is/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [One of the biggest threats to success is success itself. When you get a little bit ahead, it's all too easy to become complacent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/one-of-the-biggest-threats-to-success-is-success-itself-when-you-get/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) [Explore all 190 Ralph Marston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you focus on the obstacles, then you give them more power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Marston" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-give-them-more-power/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-give-them-more-power/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/ralph-marston-2044_adversity_if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-g_1043908.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/ralph-marston-2044_adversity_if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-g_1043908.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/ralph-marston-2044_adversity_if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-g_1043908.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you focus on the obstacles, then you give them more power.” — Ralph Marston", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ralph Marston", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you focus on the obstacles,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-give-them-more-power/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/if-you-focus-on-the-obstacles-then-you-give-them-more-power/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```