"People create their own questions because they are afraid to look straight. All you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it, don't sit looking at it -- walk." -- Ayn Rand
We move in a direction that we like to think is of our own making. We're free thinking and free spirited beings after all.
However, how much of that direction is actually pre-determined for us? Pre-determined by social conditioning, social pressures or just plain wanting to keep up with everyone else.
Following the Path of Others
Often, we follow a well-worn path we think we should be following rather than one we truly want to follow.
This may or may not lead us where we want to go but it feels safe nevertheless. Safer than coming up with our own set of ideals. Safer than making difficult decisions that lead us on a different path to those around us. Safer than questioning tradition and the masses.
At its worse, following a pre-determined course in life can lead us down a path filled with compromise, unhappiness and resentment. Feeling we're never truly able to articulate something burning deep inside. Never truly feeling authentically us somehow.
Follow Your Own Lead
What if we followed our own lead instead?
What if we turned the noise of the masses and social convention down a notch?
What if we listened to what makes our hearts sing instead and followed that path?
What if we had courage and confidence in blazing our own trail?
What if we set our internal compass on something we truly want to chase rather than on following the lead of something else that we think we should chase?
What if we took inspiration from others and learned from them but also stayed firm in our own conclusions and stayed committed to having our own experiences?
Wouldn't this lead us somewhere more in line with where our hearts truly want to go?
Follow your own lead. Embrace life your way.
Carl is the proud owner of Frictionless Living which is focused on helping readers live a simpler and more personally satisfying life. He is also the author of several books including 22 Ways to Simpler Living, 22 Ways to Happier and Frictionless Email.