The Path of Growth Versus the Path of Least Resistance
Dealing with crossroads in life
When you reach those points where you need to make a choice to take a chance to change your life for the better, don’t hesitate to forge your own new path if one isn’t already there.
Dealing With Crossroads in Life
A poem
As I flew toward that vital fork in my road I feared I was about to see my life implode. How would I ever decide which path to take? Decisions were pending and a lot was at stake.
As I flew toward the dreaded fork in my lane I knew my universe would never be the same. A tap of my finger could cause it all to degrade, as I faced a choice that could not be unmade.
As I flew toward a daunting fork in my road, I could feel myself careening into panic mode. I knew I had reached the end of my comfort zone, and it was time to step into the terrifying unknown.
As I flew toward that fateful fork in my lane I saw a way out of self-destruction and pain. I saw a path of happiness, health, and hope, for I had not yet reached the end of my rope.
As I flew toward that formidable fork in my road, I feared I might regress into a depressive episode. But then a little voice reminded me of my grit, and I knew there was no way I was ready to quit.
© Athena Milios, 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Two Paths Diverging Along the Flight of Life
Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we’re proud of. Some will haunt us forever. The message: we are what we chose to be. ―Graham Brown
In life, you can choose the path of safety (i.e., the downward path of least resistance) or the path of growth. The path of growth is the only upward trajectory — the only one that leads to self-actualization. The path of growth will get you closer to the person you want to be, a person who follows their life goals and lives in line with their core values — a person who can live their fullest life. However, it is also the harder path and the one that fewer people take because it requires more conscious effort and the ability to tolerate uncomfortable feelings. But at the end of the day, it is the only one that you won’t look back on and regret taking.
The path of least resistance is often a path of self-destruction. It ends up feeling like the “safer” course because unhealthy substances or behaviors become easy-to-use “numbing agents” to protect us from feelings. We are each prone to becoming addicted to whatever most effectively takes the pain away from us.
Some do drugs, others go for a run, but at the end of the day we’re all just searching for that tiny space, perhaps a hole, that gives us shelter from the terrible reality of the world. — Unknown
If you are on a path of self-destruction and your life is falling apart, YOU have the power to forge a new path, to give yourself an opportunity to take your life in a different direction. Even if someone else initially pushes you onto the path of health and happiness, the choice to stay on that path is yours, and ONLY yours. You may feel a mix of emotions on this path of self-growth, including excitement, nervous anticipation, and fear — like approaching the edge of a very tall cliff from which you can either fly or fall. At this point, a leap of faith is required — you have to at least pretend to believe that you are strong enough to face life head-on. Then, when you reach that edge, your path will be one of flight and not a downward trajectory. When the fear eventually subsides and you realize what you are truly capable of, you will feel able to command your flight path. You will say to yourself “I am strong enough to face my problems and my fears” and really mean it.
