When others say or do something and you act in your habitual ways, with anger, greed and so forth, this gives you a chance to look at your habitual patterns and work with them honestly and compassionately. This will lead to the path of awakening.
You cultivate skills as you go through life, maybe in your work, in the arts or in competition. Self-cultivation for any reason is not merely for the acquisition of new skills, it is a path to your innermost being and understanding of self.
Interfering with nature is to seek control, seeking control creates distress. Creating distress produces exhaustion, this negates life and its longevity. Let things come and go without desire, without expecting results; then you will not be disappointed and your spirit will not grow old.
If you want to succeed in removing an obstacle, join forces with friends of like mind. You also must have the will to persevere even if the action appears to lead away from the goal. An obstruction that only lasts for a time is useful for self-development.
Quote: Never do anything against conscience, even if the state demands it. —Einstein