We spend so much energy wishing obstacles would just move aside.
The flat tire.
The diagnosis.
The career curveball.
The relationship rupture.
We call them detours, roadblocks, interruptions on the way to the “real” road of life.
If it weren’t for these obstacles, I’d finally reach my dreams.
But what if they aren’t detours at all?
What if the obstacle is the path?
What if the very boulders in the trail are what make the hike worth remembering?
Happiness, Meaning… and the Scenic Route
I recently read a Washington Post article that resonated deeply with me.
For decades, psychologists described two ways to live a good life:
The Happy Life → comfort, satisfaction, more joy than sadness.
The Meaningful Life → purpose, connection, making the world better.
But now there’s a third: the psychologically rich life.
Think of it like this:
Happiness is the smooth bike path.
Meaning is the steady trail up a mountain.
Psychological richness? That’s the twisting, uneven scenic route—full of switchbacks, surprises, and overlooks you never would’ve seen from the highway.
It’s marked by novelty, perspective shifts, and complexity.
And yes, it usually involves more scrapes, sweat, and stumbles.
But here’s the thing: the views, the stories, the skills you collect along the way? They’re invaluable.
Every climb leaves you stronger.
Every stumble teaches you something new.
Each detour gifts you confidence, wisdom, and a quiet kind of pride you wouldn’t have had otherwise.
That’s what makes the scenic route worth it.
Often, the more obstacles, the richer the journey.
The Power of Perspective
Here’s the catch: it all depends on how we see them.
If we view obstacles as derailments—things that stop us in our tracks—we let them defeat us.
But if we shift our perspective and see them as challenges designed to foster growth, they become teachers. Invitations. Stepping stones.
And sometimes? The trail really does end.
Dead ends happen. We all find ourselves staring at a washed-out path or a trail that just… stops.
The key is not to camp out there. It’s to notice quickly, reroute, and keep moving forward.
Because the journey isn’t about avoiding wrong turns—it’s about how gracefully and wisely we reroute when they happen.
My Scenic Route
I’ve taken plenty of scenic routes myself.
There were many times I thought: “This isn’t the way I was meant to go.”
Professional pivots.
Health struggles.
Detours that felt like dead ends.
At the time, each obstacle felt like a washed-out bridge or a fallen tree across the trail. Heavy. Frustrating. Unfair.
But in hindsight? Those very obstacles slowed me down, made me look around, and pushed me toward side paths I never would have chosen.
They gave me views I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
They reshaped my understanding of health, resilience, and healing.
They gave me the humility to say: I wasn’t failing—I was rerouting.
And because I like that reminder daily, I start each morning with a simple affirmation:
“Obstacles are the way.”
It grounds me in the truth that the unexpected will happen—and that’s okay.
Every obstacle is a chance to learn, to grow, to deepen.
I almost welcome them (almost!).
They’ve given me strength in places I didn’t know I had. Over time, they’ve shaped me into a more complete, more interesting, more well-rounded person than I ever could’ve been otherwise.
For this, I am deeply grateful.
The Stories We Leave Behind
Picture this:
Someone who lived a happy life might look back and say, “That was fun!”
Someone who lived a meaningful life might say, “I made a difference.”
But someone who lived a psychologically rich life? They’ll smile, shake their head, and say, “What a journey!”
And what a truly remarkable journey that is—textured, alive, worth living.
Trail Map Takeaways
Perspective matters. If you see obstacles as barriers, they’ll stop you. If you see them as challenges, they’ll grow you.
Dead ends happen. Recognize them quickly, reroute, and keep moving forward.
Remember: obstacles don’t block the path—they are the path.
A rich life isn’t always easy, but it’s textured and full of overlooks you only discover by accident.
The “scenic route” is where the real growth happens.
And for that, we can be grateful—for both the trail and the obstacles that shape it.
✨ Trailside Reflection:
I hope you enjoy your own journey—obstacles, dead ends, reroutes, and all.