Which Path Will You Choose?
When I began my coaching practice, I wanted to select a name that would indicate my belief that we were created for greatness. The name also had to indicate that there is a path that will take us there if we follow it. After much deliberation, I finally came up with Pathway to Destiny. Initially it sounded a little cliche to me, but there was no other name that would ring true to what I want to help others accomplish in their lives.
Although I believe that greatness lies within us all, I also recognize that a huge number of us never get to that level. Why? Well, for reasons too numerous to list here, but I believe they basically fall into at least one of the following categories.
· Fear
· Failure to face reality
· Lack of preparation
· Lack of self-discipline
Becoming successful in any arena—whether it be personal development, financial, relationship, or career—all boils down to the decisions you make and the direction you walk in daily. You must make up your mind and declare which direction you want to follow. Once you do that, every action you take and every decision you make should somehow lead you down that path.
In his book, The Principle of the Path, Andy Stanley says, “Directions, not intentions, hopes, dreams, prayers, beliefs, intellect, or education—determines destination … Simply put, you and I will win or lose in life by the paths we choose.”
Oftentimes, we start out in the right direction, but get off course by the myriad distractions that constantly vie for our attention. The distractions cause us to become disconnected from our original intention, and before we know it, we are somewhere else entirely, doing something that was only meant to be a place holder for where we really wanted to go.
Many of us opt for the path of least resistance because we become weary; and thus, we often end up with a lifestyle that reflects that.
We hang onto jobs that are not challenging, therefore, we aren’t stretched to realize our capabilities;
We settle for relationships with people that impinge on our boundaries and don’t deliver the level of satisfaction we want, but the loneliness and discomfort of not having a relationship is discouraging;
We want to live a luxurious lifestyle, but instead of saving up for expensive purchases, we go into debt for years to purchase the latest and greatest designer item that will soon become obsolete or out of style.
What happened? We veered away from our path and initial intention.
The paths of integrity and self-discipline will get you where you want to be. In his best-selling book, The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck spoke of the four disciplines that lead to growth and success—delayed gratification, acceptance of responsibility, dedication to truth, and balance. In a world that expects instant gratification, encourages over-indulgence, practices casting blame on others, and relies on using deception to get what you want, the act of employing self-discipline is definitely ‘the road less traveled’.
Every day that we wake up, we can decide to travel on the desirable path that will lead us to the life experiences we crave, or we can wander aimlessly or without purpose. It’s a matter of being clear about who we are, clear about our vision, and not letting detours or distractions take us off course.
I have a couple of questions for you to reflect on:
Which path have you decided to take?
Where is your path leading you?
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” - Psalms 119:105 NIV
Do you need help in identifying your desired path or how to get there? I’m here to help. Contact me at Lois@thepathwaycoach.com to discover how to find and walk your path.
Blessings and Favor,
Lois
