Part 5 : Our Goals and Shadows

Every journey carries with it a direction—an intention, a destination that pulls us forward. At the centre of our path rests this intention, glowing quietly, waiting for us to walk toward it. Yet, as with all meaningful journeys, the way is not straight or unbroken. Around this centre, smaller forms gather—obstacles that rise and shift, sometimes blocking the way, sometimes only appearing larger than they truly are.

When we pause to look closely, we see that not every obstacle is made of stone. Some are only shadows cast by our own thoughts. Some are fears dressed as barriers, doubts disguised as walls. Others are real challenges—circumstances, limitations, or lessons still waiting to be learned. The gift comes in learning to sit with them, to place them gently on paper, to see them as they are instead of as the tangled storm they feel like within.

Journaling becomes a mirror here. By naming what stands between us and our goal, we begin to soften its hold. Words have a way of pulling the unseen into form, giving shape to what was only fog. And once it has form, it can be examined. We can ask: is this obstacle real, or is it a story I have told myself? Is this barrier external, or is it born from my own fear of stepping forward? Such questions don’t always bring immediate answers, but they open the door to clarity.

From this higher perspective, we start to see patterns. Some obstacles repeat themselves, showing us where deeper work is needed. Some dissolve the moment they are acknowledged. Others remain, but their size shrinks when seen in proportion to the larger picture. In this way, reflection becomes not just an act of release but of empowerment—we take back the power we had unknowingly handed over to fear, confusion, or self-doubt.

What once looked like an impossible wall begins to reveal its cracks. Within those cracks lie choices: to climb, to walk around, to wait until the path opens, or to realize that the wall was never truly blocking us at all. And in each choice, we gather wisdom for the road ahead.

The beauty of this process is that it reminds us the goal is not a lonely star far away but a living part of us, beating at the centre of our being. The obstacles, though many, do not define the journey. They only shape it. They give it texture, they slow us when we need patience, they challenge us when we need growth, and they remind us of the strength we may have forgotten we hold.

In the flowing lines of life, everything is connected—the goal, the barriers, the thoughts, the steps. Sitting with them, seeing them not as enemies but as teachers, transforms the path itself. Journaling, reflecting, simply breathing with them all allows us to find balance: not to erase the obstacles, but to move with wisdom through them.

And in that wisdom, we realize: the path to our goal is not about perfection, nor about speed. It is about presence, awareness, and the courage to keep walking—even when surrounded by circles of challenge. For the goal is already ours, carried within us. The journey is simply the unfolding of learning how to reach it.

Journaling Practice 

Take 15–20 minutes to sit with pen and paper.

1. Write your current goal in the centre of the page. Let it be as specific or as broad as it feels to you.
2. Around it, draw small circles and write down everything that feels like an obstacle right now—external challenges, inner doubts, recurring patterns, fears.
3. For each, ask:
4. Is this obstacle real or imagined?

• • If real, what is one small step I can take toward working with it?
  • If imagined, what belief is fueling it? Do I still choose to carry that belief?

1. End by writing one sentence of trust: “Even with these obstacles, I am moving closer to my goal.”
2. When done, take a breath. Look at the map you’ve drawn. Notice that while the circles may be many, your goal is still at the centre—alive, steady, waiting.

Closing Meditation 

• Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and take three slow, deep breaths. Let your body soften into stillness.
• In your mind’s eye, imagine a circle glowing at the centre—it is your goal. Notice its light, its steady presence.
• Around it, see smaller circles floating. These are your obstacles. Some appear heavy, some faint, some shifting in and out. Simply notice them without judgment.
• Now, imagine yourself rising above this image, as though looking down from above. From here, you see the whole pattern: your goal in the centre, obstacles surrounding, yet none able to extinguish the light at the core.
• With each breath, let the obstacles shrink just slightly, becoming more manageable, less overwhelming.
• Whisper to yourself: “I see the path clearly. I trust my strength to move forward.”

Rest for a few more breaths in this awareness, then gently open your eyes, carrying the calm and clarity with you.

Mantra

🩵 “Obstacles teach me; clarity carries me forward.” 🩵