Obstacles to Bhakti
When devotees look at their obstacles to advancement in Krsna consciousness, they sometimes doubt whether they will ever be able to overcome all of them (for those of you who didn’t take the seminar, we asked participants to make a list of obstacles they face in devotional service and formulate prayers based on those obstacles). It is easy to become discouraged and thus feel like it is not even worth praying to overcome obstacles or that if I just go on in devotional service they will just somehow go away. Meanwhile we may carry these anarthas with us for years – maybe even lifetimes.

Can I Change?
I have seen - and research confirms – that change can take place, even if a person is convinced they can’t change, if the impetus to change is strong enough. It is common that an alcoholic who thinks he can never give up drinking quits when his wife tells him that she and the kids will leave him if he doesn't stop drinking. Persons who repeatedly molest children because they believe they can’t control themselves, that they have no choice (often because they were abused as children), are asked,“If you were about to molest a child and a policeman appeared and said if you touch the child you will be arrested or killed, would you be able to stop yourself?” They always reply, “Well if I were going to be arrested or killed, then yeah, I could stop myself.”

You Have the Choice
So rather than say, ”I can’t overcome this obstacle” or “I can’t do this or that,” it is generally more accurate to say “I choose not to do it.” This gives you a more realistic view of your situation. If, for example, you feel pride is an obstacle, you can choose to glorify others rather than seek out glorification or appreciation for yourself. You have the choice. No one is telling you that you have to be proud, no one if forcing you not to serve and glorify other devotees. Your mind may be telling you that, but you don’t have to listen. So who is the greatest obstacle to our advancement? We are.

The Impetus to Change
Where does that impetus to change come from? One way it comes is by looking at what we are loosing out on in our spiritual lives by not overcoming our obstacles. I like to ask myself, “What could I achieve in Krsna consciousness if I removed this or that anartha from my life?” And the answer is always a resounding, “I would be much more, blissful and peaceful. I would be more fulfilled, and my spiritual progress would obviously be less hindered. In other words, I have so much to loose and nothing to gain by holding on to my anarthas.

Just Say No to Maya
So why do I keep holding onto them? Because I choose to. Or put another way, maya is choosing for me and I am not saying anything. The bottom line is “Just say no to maya.”

Love for Guru
What is another impetus? Prabhupada said that when one has great love for his spiritual master, he will follow all his instructions. The greater the love, the greater the impetus to follow. The proper attitude is that, “I may not want to do something, but I will do it because my guru asked me.” And we can pray to our guru to give us strength to follow his instructions.

Committing to Another Person
Committing to another devotee can be a great impetus to improve ourselves. For example, we can say, “I commit to you to come to mangala aroti, to not speak ill of devotees, to give up this bad habit, etc. It is usually more effective to commit to someone else than to commit to ourselves. This is also why coaching is so effective.

The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that if Krsna sees we are sincere in our efforts to advance, He will certainly help us from within. And if He helps us, everything becomes easy.