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Path of Most Resistance
Choices Pave Your Future
Fork in the Road
Depending on the paths we all choose to walk, the doors of opportunity are constantly opening and slamming shut. Thus, to lead a life you want to live, you must consciously choose the paths which are not only aligned with your underlying goals and purpose but also filled with growth and development. Remember, you are directly in control of your own destiny; so, pave a future that feeds your ambitions.
    As we all walk through life, one of the greatest challenges is making wise decisions which guide us in the right direction. We are constantly confronted with the dilemma of choosing a path to follow, and each path we choose ultimately leads to a myriad of consequences. For instance, one of the classic examples is the decision to attend or skip college. If we walk the path of higher education, future opportunities are more plentiful, and many doors and potential paths are opened. However, these doors are opened at the expense of time and commitment - without the guarantee of a desired outcome. Such time could have been invested in other endeavors, which may be more important and beneficial to other people. Conversely, if someone chooses to skip college, all of that time may be devoted to his or her passions and other fruitful activities - such as starting a business. Nonetheless, many doors of opportunity will most likely be slammed shut, and the individual may potentially end up leading a more stressful life. Regardless of the actual decisions made, all choices will ultimately pave the future road we must all walk; so, it is clear that making the correct choice - one that supports our underlying mission and goals - is absolutely imperative.
Path of Least Resistance
       When we arrive at a fork in the road, how are we supposed to assess our options wisely and pick the correct path to walk? Given that the majority of our future is contingent on these choices, such a decision process can be quite stressful and weigh heavily on our conscience. From my experience, what I've found is that humans instinctively tend to choose the easy path of least resistance. Our minds are essentially programmed for efficient survival, and, therefore, we all strive to maximize profit by exerting the least amount of effort. Once our survival is guaranteed, engagement in a given activity is significantly challenged and becomes more of an exercise in willpower. For example, would you rather deepen your knowledge by reading a book or relax leisurely in front of a TV; eat whole, natural foods that allow you to think clearly or consume processed, instantly gratifying foods which hurt and hold you back; get ahead in your classes and work or shirk your responsibilities and party with friends? Provided that survival is guaranteed, almost all of us are instinctively drawn to the second option in each example - the path of least resistance. In this sense, our minds sometimes tend to be our greatest enemies, and they can be attributed to a great loss of opportunity. To complicate matters further, modern society has made survival almost trivial - removing one of the greatest motivators for action in human history. As a result, making the choice of pursuing the right path can sometimes be quite challenging, and most humans almost instinctively fall into this path of least resistance.
Thoreau
Provided that survival is guaranteed, almost all of us are instinctively drawn to the path of least resistance. However, although expedient in the moment, this option almost always leads to decline and atrophy; it points in the opposite direction of your dreams and ambitions. So, to lead the life you wish to live, you must learn to embrace challenges and fight the urge to walk these regressive paths.
Ships
The path of least resistance may provide the illusion of safety and instant gratification, but it ultimately leads to stagnation in the long run. Much like a ship left in the harbor, you remain static and fail to cultivate the skill sets which drive success. Furthermore, such lack of action slowly deteriorates your talents - just as the weather gradually wears away at a dormant ship. If you persistently walk the path of least resistance, not only will you fail to lead the life you want, but any skills which could serve you along the journey will eventually vanish; you will lose the vessel capable of sailing towards your dreams.
    Although expedient in the moment, the path of least resistance generally provides us with broken roads or dead ends. It may lead to instant gratification but ultimately produces stagnation and atrophy. Just as water may erode the most robust rock structures, continually walking this path will ultimately deteriorate your motives, discipline, talents, and inner framework - taking much more from you than it gives. To top it off, I have also found that any pleasure or "happiness" attained from this path is short-lived and unsustainable; it is as fleeting as it is damaging. For example, people who live solely for stimulation and instant gratification - such as TV, movies, alcohol, etc. - may appear to be "happy" in the presence of these stimulating sources. However, once those sources are removed, they quickly revert to a state of dissatisfaction - tying a portion of their happiness to external conditions. While fine in moderation, instant gratification and pleasure certainly provide an unsustainable type of happiness - especially when pursued excessively. In this sense, walking the path of least resistance may temporarily serve you in the present moment but generally leads to a poor outcome in the long run - leaving you empty handed.
Path of Most Resistance
     Fortunately, taking the easy route of least resistance is hardly ever the only option available; we can also choose the harder path of most resistance. Based on experience, this alternate course usually turns out to be the best option. It may be the narrow, difficult path which is barely trodden, but it is the passage towards growth and development - the seed of opportunity waiting to blossom. If you choose this path and properly nourish its seeds of opportunity, you will find that those seeds eventually flourish into something which far surpasses your expectations. However, choosing this path certainly demands persistent dedication and time. Since this path is chosen infrequently, you will most likely have to blaze the trail and find your own path through the forest of uncertainty - to basically invent the wheel. You have to become the wolf who thinks for him/herself and conquers uncertainty; you can not simply coast along this path as a sheep being herded to its final destination. In the long run, however, the end result always gives more than it takes, and you will be amazed as your conception of what's possible is continually challenged.
Diligence
The path of most resistance may certainly demand persistent dedication and effort. However, it is the option which offers the seeds of opportunity, and, if properly nourished, these seeds always flourish into something which far outweighs the sacrifices. So, train yourself to not only walk the path of most resistance but to also wholeheartedly embrace what it offers; learn to say yes to a dynamic, growing lifestyle.
Paths
As you navigate through life, your choices must always align with and strive to fulfill your underlying purpose. Failing to do so is equivalent to walking in circles; you may end up reaching minor goals, but you will ultimately never progress to a higher level. In the long run, you will constrain yourself to a single, never-ending path - a path where the same things happen again and again. So, to lead a life filled with true, sustainable success, always choose to walk paths which are aligned with your goals and challenge yourself; don't fall into the easy path of least resistance - the path which is disconnected from your purpose and promotes atrophy. 
     As an example of this path, I recently watched a show which perfectly captures the essence of these ideas. Entitled Attack on Titan, the show depicts humanity's struggle to survive a new predator: colossal giants known as titans. When they first appeared, these giants quickly devastated all of humanity, and Earth's population was almost completely wiped out. It was not until the remaining humans imprisoned themselves inside gargantuan walls that peace was finally achieved once again. However, this was attained at the cost of freedom and access to the entire world; humanity could only survive by reducing itself to a bird in a cage.
    In the show, the main characters are followed as they train to join humanity's new military. Divided into three separate sections (the survey corps, garrison, and military police), the new military not only defends against potential attacks but also maintains order within the walls. Furthermore, of the three sections mentioned above, a career in the military police is equivalent to following the path of least resistance. Nestled in the comfort of the deep inner walls, members of this faction hardly have any responsibilities, and survival is essentially guaranteed. As a result, most faction members lack the evolutionary pressure to hone their skills and fight for a better future, and they naturally fall into the easy way out. They are usually found drinking on the job, wasting their time with trivial games, and shirking the few responsibilities they actually have. Since this particular faction offers an easy and peaceful life, most military members also compete to join the military police; humanity is naturally drawn to this path of least resistance. Ironically, however, the military police are not only disengaged and bored with life but are also thoroughly dissatisfied. Any excitement initially attained from joining the faction is fleeting; it is expedient in the moment but hardly ever leads to any accomplishments or true, sustainable happiness.
    As the show progresses, one particular character, who is known as Jean Kirstein, consistently struggles with his urge to join the military police. Initially, the faction's easy, disengaged life draws him in hook, line, and sinker. His ultimate passion and fulfillment in life is to walk that safe, secure path of least resistance - even if it entails sacrificing his talents and ability to aid humanity. However, in the long run, he eventually realizes that true, sustainable happiness comes from our personal journeys and being the person who we want to be; it flows from that sense of full engagement. Provided that basic life necessities are guaranteed, you can not sustain happiness with external pleasures and a stagnant lifestyle; that is only born from a dynamic life - not a static one characterized by monotony and atrophy. So, do not allow the fear of change to take the wheel and steer your life into stagnancy; doing so leads down the path of complacency where improvement is restricted. Instead, realize that change and challenges are your ally; they provide that evolutionary pressure which drive you towards the lifestyle you personally want to live.
Emerson
Sometimes, blindly following the paths laid out in front of us (especially the social narrative) lead to nothing but complacency and stagnation. In order to live a life of significance, you must find the courage to walk a path aligned with your innate purpose - even if that entails straying from the norm and demands diligent work.
Robert Frost
If you choose to walk the path of most resistance, it will certainly demand much more effort and consistent commitment. However, if you persevere, you will find that such a  path always makes all the difference; it will provide the growth and development essential for leading the life you want to live. So, resist the pull of the easy way out; strive to challenge yourself and walk the path of most resistance when appropriate. 
    Upon realizing this through a series of tragic events, Jean eventually decides to fight his urges and join the survey corps instead. As its name implies, this faction surveys land beyond the walls - where titans freely roam. Thus, the rate of survival is quite low, and hardly any members of the military freely choose to join this division. It is essentially the path of most resistance yet serves as humanity's only offensive stand against the titans - the path where growth, development, and hope reside. By deciding to join the survey corps, Jean not only continues to develop his skills and willpower, but he eventually participates in humanity's first victory over the titans. Serving under this faction is certainly hard work, but it always ends up giving more than it takes and offers a road to victory. For instance, during a breach of the walls, Jean's cultivated skills and abilities ironically allow him to take action, lead, and survive - while his colleagues in the military police remain helpless and are eaten. The path of least resistance ultimately fails to mold their skills into a valuable asset - one that could make the difference in tough situations. So, as this example demonstrates, the path of least resistance may be expedient in the moment, but it is nothing more than a dead end - a choice that breeds atrophy and decline. If you wish to get ahead in life, you must have the courage to follow the path of most resistance when appropriate - to choose the difficult option that offers growth and development. That's the path where a dynamic life unfolds in front of you - a life characterized by change, opportunity, and true sustainable happiness.
Use Resistance as a Compass
    Although a detriment to progress, this natural attraction to the path of least resistance can actually serve as a useful tool; however, it must first be perceived as such. As explained in a previous lesson (check it out here), we must paint our pictures of reality such that they always work with us and give more than they take, and this certainly applies to the path of least resistance. For instance, we all tend to emotionally resist the path towards growth and development, but this innate feeling is actually a compass in disguise. It always points towards the true-north principles essential for true, sustainable success; so, overcoming this resistance with sufficient willpower will generally lead to positive results. If perceived in this manner, the path of least resistance is suddenly transformed into a useful tool - one that serves as a guide and provides direction. So, when you come to a fork in the road, do not fear your instinctual attraction to the path of least resistance; rather, embrace it as a valuable asset for any decision-making process. It always points south towards the direction of decline, and this knowledge alone is one great step towards making positive changes.
Compass
If perceived properly, our natural tendency to resist growth and development can be utilized as a useful tool - a valuable compass in disguise. Such resistance always points towards the true-north principles essential for true, sustainable success; so, overcoming this resistance with sufficient willpower will generally lead to positive results. Thus, you should not fear your own resistance; instead, you should embrace it as a tool that can create direction - if permitted to do so.

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