Follow Your Own Path
Follow Your Own Path
“Follow your own path” is a phrase you’ve likely heard before but it’s an odd choice of words if we look at them closely.
How can one follow what is already supposed to be an authentic representation of themself? And what exactly is one’s path? It’s never self-evident nor revealed to us. Follow me for a minute:
One is born with a unique set of limitations and boundaries. They are also afforded unique talents and opportunities. Limitations & talents are internal qualities; boundaries and opportunities are external.
Humans are inherently designed to never actually pursue our unique talents. Because these talents naturally come easiest to us, they don’t hold our interest and we easily get bored or dissatisfied with the results. This is why we never take the path of least resistance; like when we get bored in relationships, change jobs, take up new hobbies, etc. We are inherently designed to have craving; a craving for new experiences. This quality, pushes us out of our comfort zone from within to go beyond. And when we do, we become introduced to our limitations and boundaries aka hardship & resistance.
Back and Forth
Typically due to our inexperience, we take shortcuts to fulfill our goal and eventually hit a wall. Then we crawl back to our bed of experience and rest our tired head there till we’re ready to venture out again. Returning back to the cushy path of least resistance; like going back to an old relationship, an old routine/habit, or listening to that old playlist you “forgot” about, etc. It feels good again till it doesn’t.
This back-and-forth pendulum of pushing new boundaries and failing, then falling back to rest and back out again is our life’s dance.
Pay attention to what you tend to fall back on, and what inner craving drives you. This oscillation between the two is the authentic representation of yourself; your past vs future. Follow the craving to follow your own path. It’s okay to fall back and rest. But to become aware of this back-and-forth dance is to ensure you’re always moving to your own beat, and not dancing to someone else’s. It’s far more fulfilling to have satisfaction in your own path than success in another.
Where Can You Start?
If you have no idea where to start, or think you have no unique talents, don’t worry that is normal. Most people never become aware of their unique talents, being the path of least resistance we simply overlook it. Just ask a friend, family, acquaintance what you’re good at and they’ll break it down for you.
What do you like to do in your free time? Something no one can stop you from doing
Let me know in the comments below!
