Platitudes like “an obstacle is a gift” come off as attempts by the speaker to feel more comfortable about your suffering. Rewrite them. In your mind, you’re an assassin who just gets more motivated the more that interesting barriers stand in your way. But that pays more, and you *are* going to complete the contract. Now an obstacle is a gift. So what exactly is the insurmountable problem with your story again? (aphorism remix maxim)