The Path Less Traveled
by Bert Oliva
In today’s world of texts, Snapchats, Instagrams, and so much more, communication time has been reduced to microseconds. Everything we do nowadays is at such a fast and furious pace we hardly have time to breathe or take time to make decisions.
Moreover, in this day of instant communication and instant gratification, our patience level on a whole has been greatly reduced. At least I know it has been for me. When I was younger, I enjoyed waiting for letters in the mail; now email is too slow and if you haven’t responded to my text within a minute or two, I’m annoyed and wondering if something is wrong. Can you relate to this feeling?
I think a lot of this high-speed philosophy of our modern age has also seeped into the way we work and the way we think about work. Oftentimes, I find myself thinking, “There has to be an easier way. A way of less resistance. One where I can get what I want now and I don’t have to work for it.” And the truth of the matter is, in today’s world where nearly every ounce of humankind’s knowledge is available to us from a single mobile search, there probably is. At least, there’s a shortcut to seeming like we’ve gotten to where we want to go.
For instance, there is so much knowledge out there on being a great soccer player, that I could easily learn the terminology, the plays, and even some of the theory behind the sport in probably a matter of a week. But sounding like a soccer player won’t give me the ability to actually play the game as months, or better yet years, of physical practice and whole-hearted dedication will.
The path of least resistance is not always the best option. In fact, it usually isn’t. Not when it comes to something that truly matters; something that we want to master. Though you can gain knowledge at an instant, it is only through true experience and personal application of that knowledge that we master it and it becomes our own.
QUOTE THIS: “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” -Frank Clark
PowerTools™
1) The next time you find yourself wanting something to be easier, ask yourself if what you are trying to achieve is worth having. Is it something you truly want?
2) If this is something you truly want, then envision yourself achieving it. Close your eyes or write down in your journal exactly how you will feel and where you will be when you achieve it. Will you feel accomplished? Will you be proud? Will all of your hard work have paid off? Who will be with you? Make this vision as complete as it possibly can be for yourself.
3) Now that you have this complete vision of this goal, is this a place that you can get to instantaneously or by taking shortcuts? Even if you could skip ahead and be there already, would the accomplishment feel the same without all the hard work that went into it? Realize that the only way it will truly become your achievement and a worthwhile one is through your hard work and persistence, take a deep breath, and then take one more step toward your goal. You will get there. And the accomplishment will be all yours.
Live Life,
Bert Oliva
AUG