The Path of Most Resistance
Everyone is working toward something. Some people do not want to feel overwhelmed. Some people want to feel at peace. Some people are seeking financial independence. Although the end goal is different for people, everyone is looking to achieve something that they believe will be rewarding for them.
We oftentimes mistake the path toward our goal, for the goal itself. If we are seeking the goal of not being overwhelmed, we can make the assumption that the path to achieving this requires us to request that our spouse helps out more. Although this is one viable path, it is not the only one. If we become hyperfocused on a singular path, we can lose sight of the actual goal. If we lose sight of the goal, we will not notice the other possible paths that are available to us.
Most often in life, our mind focuses on the path of greatest resistance. If we want happiness, but are broke, we will tell ourselves that if we had more money, we would be happy. If we want to feel less overwhelmed, but we have a stronger work ethic than our spouse, we will tell ourselves that if our spouse worked harder, we would fell less overwhelmed. If we want to lose weight, but we have a damaged leg, we will tell ourselves that if we had the capability to run, we could lose weight.
We become so hyperfocused on the path of greatest resistance, that we often forget that there are other paths that will take us to our desired outcome. If we stop and take a step back from focusing on the most resistant path, we can start to see other ways of achieving our goal. If we take two steps back, really define what it is that we want, and forget for a minute about how we think we are going to get there, other possible paths will become visible.
As possibilities open up, it will not matter if the path we prefer to take is blocked. If we have a stronger work ethic than our spouse, we can still become less overwhelmed, as we manage the other aspects of our life. We can lose weight by utilizing other means besides running. We can see all the different ways that happiness comes, even when money is limited.
The most resistant path is someone else’s agency. It is nearly impossible to plot a course for our self when the path is blocked by someone else’s choices. That person might be trying to work on their character and change those tendencies, but such growth can take a lifetime. If we are standing on the sidelines, tapping our foot, and waiting impatiently for them to change, their growth can take longer. If we have focused on their impediment for so long that we believe our only path to our happiness is for them to change, we will develop resentment toward them. When we take a step back and realize that we can achieve our own goals, without requiring someone else to change first, our resentment dissipates. When we realize that there are many possible paths available to us, on our journey to achieve our goals, we experience emotional freedom.