It’s an absolute travesty to think/believe you only have a single choice of a single path in life. However, most of us grow up with only a couple of options. Usually, these options are related to what our parents did or what we think we can attain. Even the attainment expectation is predicated on our own desires, life experiences, other peoples’ expectations for us, and a learned self-image. Nobody comes into the world with a set of directions tied to their butts. Most of what we do is due to our own making and so it’s imperative that we learn the basic rules of life and then we must learn what is required of us to attain that which we seek.
The critical test for us, as I see it, is to not feel compelled to do what everybody else has done. We tend to gravitate to “the tried and true” just because it’s easy and safe. We watch expectantly as 96% of our colleagues choose “the road MOST traveled” and we see the predictable results. We get in line, so to speak to await our turn to do things the same as all others. But, if we are honest, we do not want to be like everybody else. We begin to resist repeating the plans, ways, effort, and the same path as everybody else. We want a different result so we choose another way to our desired end. This is our salvation from being a self-motivated copy cat. But, if we take the “tried and true” path we will arrive again at the same place as everyone else. Not good! Our goal is to win. In order to do so, we have to shun the safe and sometimes go down the path “LESS traveled” to be the last man standing on stage.
Bottom Line: If something works, honor it. However, if you want to be the one who dared step off the “righteous path” and pulled out all the stops to win on our terms…..You have to be “NOT AFRAID” and do things differently and more perfectly to win. We have to do the unconventional to defeat, self doubt and fear and to get comfortable with being on a totally different wave length and thus a totally different path.
Lastly, being afraid to change is normal. Making the needed and actual change is true “bravery.”
Six Pack and Senior 