Recently while I was training we tried out a structural constellation on the theme of attaining goals.

SySt© structural constellations are an unconventional way to work through issues and questions. Specific persons and other “elements” that are relevant to the issue are represented by people in the room, who are asked questions about their own perception of the other people and elements in the constellation.

This often leads to intensive, surprising and resonant answers in just a short time.

A participant had the goal to work less. But somehow, mysteriously, she just cannot manage that. If you do not attain a goal and do not understand why not however much you would like to get there, then usually there must be some obstacles in your way. When the participant was asked about obstacles, she said that she had too many jobs and commissions.

Whenever there are obstacles without resources then a goal is a nice idea, but it is an illusion. That is why I always ask people about their resources, which can also be resources that people do not usually consider in connection with the goal in question, but which they have nonetheless.

In this case a lot of resources were named – there were more of them than there were obstacles.

A constellation of representatives for the goal, the obstacles and the resources shed quite a lot of light on the matter, including a number of resources that the participant had not yet seen.

The most exciting moment, however, came when we moved the constellation around a little, and then the representative of the obstacle “Too Many Jobs” called out: “But I am not an obstacle!”

And one day later I remembered a quotation from Marcus Aurelius: “What stands in the way becomes the way.”

What would life be like if we were able to question whether what we see as obstacles might actually be treasures, and that they might bear opportunities that we could utilise as a tailwind on our way to our goals, and as a form of motivation?

What would it be like if we did not see obstacles as moments when there is no way forward, but as well hidden treasures.

It will not always be as simple as in the constellation I have just described, in which an obstacle suddenly light-heartedly said: “But I am not an obstacle!”

How much easier would our working lives be if we were able to more frequently realise the power and the opportunities that difficulties and disturbances withhold. To do this you have to start looking – it will be worth it.