Each has their own merits, for years, I prided myself in doing my own thing, my own way. No help, no input, no way. I know it appeared strong to others, difficult to some and hard to manage to all.
It hasn’t gotten me nearly as far as I planned, on second thought, I never looked into the future to see where it would take me. The goal was only to do it differently. Do it my way. I think this mindset is both admirable and flawed. It comes from a background mixed deeply from trauma, stubbornness, strength and pride.
As I took a snowy walk this week, with Louie, my handsome, pup, I noticed how we both struggled to move through the deep, heavy snow; to blaze our paths. We were out of breath, slow and tired quickly. Yet, when we got on the path where someone else had already beaten the snow down, it was easier, quicker, and we were joyful and filled with fun. I tend to always draw connections between the physical and metaphorical. It’s a natural progression in my brain and might be annoying to some, yet, always gets me giddy when I find a good nugget.
It got me thinking about the paths that we take and how often a path that someone has already been down can make it easier. How seeing someone else’s successes and failures can determine our own behavior. How never being exposed to an experience can limit how we show up, take risks or even digest information. How the environment we grow up around can make us rich for opportunities to grow or create fear of ever becoming more.
I have felt stuck for sometime, specifically, about building my coaching program, not knowing whos path to follow or when I should I lead. It left me standing like the north going Zax and south going Zax in Dr Seuss’s book arguing with one another and neither going forward, never budging. While I am sensitive to the fact that there may have been much more than one hurdle in front of me and both clarity and healing have played a role in moving forward, I now recognize how allowing help, input and suggestions create more ease.
I think turning inward to see what we need helps us determine whos path to follow and lets us be guided by those that have our best intentions and model our very innate desires. It is a combination of being guided and knowing yourself. Listening to the voices that come up that are either scared or brave always show us what path to illuminate. I am happy to be a trail blazer and be someone that wants to do something so different that the cookie cutter model won’t do. I am also happy that some others have done it as they have made the path easier for me and I can learn from someone self. I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing I have mentors and guides whenever I need. I am grateful to ease into this new state of mind and not being so brash and prideful that I can’t accept help. Perhaps, the next path will be easier.
What path to lean to? Do you blaze a head proudly, allow yourself to be guided or a healthy combination of the two? Let me know in the comments!