The lines above, taken from Robert Frost’s poem ‘The Road Not Taken’, refer to a challenge we encounter repeatedly in our travels through life. Do we take the path of least resistance, the oft-travelled path, which is easy to tread and has a direction already mapped out for us? Or do we take the path which is overgrown, winding and steep, with an uncertain destination? Often the first kind of path calls out to the rational, logical parts of our personalities. It reassures us with security and seduces us with its clarity of vision. Yet we feel a tug deep within us from the second kind of path, the meandering path that beckons the spirit with promises of intrigue and mystery.
The conflict that arises when we are faced with two directions, one which speaks to the mind and the other that calls to the heart, can undoubtedly be difficult to resolve. When gazing out at the road less travelled, we must confront our inner critic, the nay-sayer whispering “you can’t do that” or “it will never work” or “you’ll just look foolish”. Unfortunately when going against convention, there will also always be the small-minded to join the chorus, those whose eyes are too blinded by prejudice to see your vision.
It can help to remember that part of the journey is interpreting their negative energies as evidence that you are making the right choice. Any decision that pleases your inner critic or the disapproving voices around you is unlikely to be a path that will bring challenge, opportunity or soulful creativity to your life. Too many people tread the path of conventional thinking for the sake of comfort and pleasing others, leaving their heartfelt longings by the roadside.
When we finally start on our chosen path, we cannot be tentative about the choice we make. In the words of the philosopher Henry David Thoreau:
“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.”
When we make choices in line with our instincts and deepest needs, we are reaffirming our ability to prioritise our own peace, happiness and personal growth. Following this path may be far from easy, but it is essential in driving us forward towards the kind of life we might envision, with gratitude at every step for the opportunities that lay ahead.
Here is an affirmation for guidance in moments when two paths appear to diverge in a wood. It can be repeated, morning and evening, for reassurance as you take the road less travelled and step bravely out into the unknown.
The Happiness Collective 