--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are very real obstacles and…" description: "\"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 of your own. Unchain y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/ralph-marston-2044_action_there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challe_169483.png" --- # There are very real obstacles and challenges to any course… ![“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 of your own. Unchain yourself from the bondage of your own thinking.” quote by Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/ralph-marston-2044_action_there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challe_169483.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/ralph-marston-2044_action_there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challe_169483.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/ralph-marston-2044_action_there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challe_169483.png) > “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 of your own. Unchain yourself from the bondage of your own thinking.” [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. External challenges are real, but self‑imposed obstacles often amplify difficulty; freeing the mind from limiting beliefs eases progress. **In simple terms:** Self‑created doubts make problems seem bigger. Key Takeaway Release mental constraints to act freely. Themes obstacles mindset self‑limiting beliefs freedom action Mood determined hopeful motivated Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - goal setting - career planning - personal development - decision making - stress reduction Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑fulfilling prophecy psychological barriers Questions to Reflect On - What mental barriers are you adding? - How can you break free from limiting thoughts? A Different Perspective Self‑imposed limits can be hard to recognize. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Add](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/add/) [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Bondage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bondage/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Making Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-obstacles-1837367/) [Making up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-up/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Obstacles and challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles-and-challenges/) [Obstacles Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles-challenges-447401/) [Obstacles Unchain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles-unchain-1837365/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-obstacles-1837366/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Problems, obstacles, and challenges can either become the markers of our limits and limitations, or they can become the springboard into a whole new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/problems-obstacles-and-challenges-can-either-become-the-markers-of/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [Rationalization is one of the real obstacles to obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/rationalization-is-one-of-the-real-obstacles-to-obedience/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [If things are just gliding along easily and there's no real obstacles or hurdles, those typically aren't my most productive times, personally or professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lari-white/if-things-are-just-gliding-along-easily-and-there-s-no-real-obstacles/) [Lari White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lari-white/) > [Wherever we turn we find that the real obstacles to peace are human will and feeling, human convictions, prejudices, opinions. If we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/wherever-we-turn-we-find-that-the-real-obstacles-to-peace-are-human/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Real obstacles don't take you in circles. They can be overcome. Invented ones are like a maze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/real-obstacles-don-t-take-you-in-circles-they-can-be-overcome/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [There's obstacles, there's challenges, there's things that come in the way. So building relationships and building some of the expectations on the front end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-day/there-s-obstacles-there-s-challenges-there-s-things-that-come-in-the/) [Ryan Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-day/) > [Obstacles and challenges in life only make bonds stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obstacles-and-challenges-in-life-only-make-bonds-stronger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We do not succeed in spite of our obstacles and challenges. We succeed precisely because of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-do-not-succeed-in-spite-of-our-obstacles-and-challenges-we-succeed/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I wanted to create a world that presented the Smurfs with obstacles and challenges and really put them in a fish-out-of-water situation but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-asbury/i-wanted-to-create-a-world-that-presented-the-smurfs-with-obstacles/) [Kelly Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-asbury/) > [Obstacles are challenges for winners and excuses for losers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obstacles-are-challenges-for-winners-and-excuses-for-losers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In our lives we often come across many obstacles. If you make urself courageous and face the obstacles/challenges you win but if u run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patric-bensen/in-our-lives-we-often-come-across-many-obstacles-if-you-make-urself/) [Patric Bensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patric-bensen/) > [“All life-forms need obstacles and challenges in order to evolve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/all-life-forms-need-obstacles-and-challenges-in-order-to-evolve/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Don't waste valuable time and energy on things that don't matter, obstacles, challenges and tough times are all part of the deal. So deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/don-t-waste-valuable-time-and-energy-on-things-that-don-t-matter/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [“A strategy is not permanent. It’s like water, it will keep changing itself as the obstacles come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-agnihotri/a-strategy-is-not-permanent-it-s-like-water-it-will-keep-changing/) [Pooja Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-agnihotri/) > [Focused will is incredible. If you have a dream and you don’t give up no matter what obstacles come up, then life’s problems will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/focused-will-is-incredible-if-you-have-a-dream-and-you-don-t-give-up/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [Doubt is merely a thought. When experience proves it wrong, it will quickly go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/doubt-is-merely-a-thought-when-experience-proves-it-wrong-it-will/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) [Explore all 190 Ralph Marston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 of your own. Unchain yourself from the bondage of your own thinking.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Marston" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challenges-to-any-course-of-action/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challenges-to-any-course-of-action/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/ralph-marston-2044_action_there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challe_169483.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/ralph-marston-2044_action_there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challe_169483.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/ralph-marston-2044_action_there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challe_169483.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are very real obstacles and challenges to any course of action. And there's no need to add to them, by…” — 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": "There are very real obstacles and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challenges-to-any-course-of-action/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/there-are-very-real-obstacles-and-challenges-to-any-course-of-action/#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 } } ] } ```