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A Chosen Path: Part I Join me for a summer series where we will explore what it means to a) choose a path of your own volition, b) change course and shift off a path you thought was meant for you, and c) what happens when your path ends and you need to forge a new one. As I notice myself at more crossroads in my own life, it feels important to pause and ponder different outcomes and the courage it takes to start a journey. I hope you will join me. There’s a saying in modern self-development and leadership literature that reminds listeners: “If you don’t choose a path for yourself, one will be chosen for you.” Profound and unsettling. Empowering and daunting. The call to action is clear: be intentional with your life. Otherwise, you may find yourself on a path shaped by circumstance, societal expectations, or the choices of others. As weeks and months seem to pass faster than ever before, I find myself struck by the question - what am I choosing for my one wild and precious life? And I wonder if that question crosses your mind through the peaks and valleys that life seems to have so many of. The photo above feels like a visual invitation into choice itself. When going hiking or on any outdoor adventure, reading a map or a sign at the entrance of a park shows you all of the options available. And then you venture over to the trailhead you selected. Even then, you are faced with the choice to begin or not. Despite all the unknowns of what may be ahead on the trail, you’ve now committed to it. Following the trail to see what’s around the bend can be so rewarding. It also comes with the risk of uncertainty. Not knowing how you will feel on the other side or what creepy crawlers may be out there, literally and figuratively. Not knowing if the end of the path will be the payoff you had hoped for. I find that intentionally choosing the journey is worth the risk. I know so many people, myself included, who feel scared, sometimes even paralyzed, by the prospect of choosing a path. Option overload is real. So is the insecurity of not knowing if the path you are choosing is the right one or if there could be something better out there. This oscillation so often leads to stagnation or sliding into a life that you never would have consciously chosen for yourself. What might it be like to break out of the monotony of life and choose something small for yourself today? Here are some ideas of what that might look like this summer: Initiating time with loved ones Walking or driving in silence to allow time and space to have and hear your own thoughts Planting something in your garden or growing small items indoors Waiting to respond to non-urgent texts, emails, etc. Investing in your interests, hobbies, and passions simply because they bring you joy
Perhaps dedicating time to people and activities you love can become an act of rebellion against the constant demands for your time that feel outside of your direct control. And maybe in taking these small steps, you might feel more empowered to actively participate in choosing what direction your life moves in going forward. Mountain Clarity: There may not be one ‘right’ path waiting to be discovered. Often, the more deeply you understand yourself and what matters to you, the easier it becomes to recognize what feels aligned. Don’t avoid the introspective work that kind of clarity requires. And don’t wait for someone else to tell you who to be. Journal Prompts for Reflection: If you paused to consider the path you are currently on, how would you describe it? Does it align with the life you imagined for yourself? What emotions arise when considering these answers? What small, intentional choices could create more space for the version of yourself you want to nurture? Can you identify seasons of life when your path felt clear, and seasons when it did not? What were both of those seasons like for you? What does it feel like to consciously choose your next steps instead of following expectations, pressure, or outside direction?
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