Through the ages, wise people from cultures around the world have said that we face a basic choice at every moment of every day. The Lakota people referred to the choice between the Red Road and the Black Road. Buddha differentiated between the safe and good path and the false path. Another book talks about the right path versus the path of those who go astray.
What are they talking about? What are these “roads” or “paths” lying before us? It would certainly be easy to take the “right” way if there was a fork in the road with one path leading to sunshine and rainbows, and the other path leading to storms and an evil-looking figure dancing gleefully in the dark. Unfortunately, it is often the very things that we think we want for ourselves that lead to unhappiness.
For example, people tend to value being appreciated on the job. They want to be recognized for having done good work. Seems like a “safe and good path,” right? The problem is that people are inconsistent and unpredictable. On some days, people can react to us as if we had just parted the Red Sea, and on other days, the same quality of work is completely unnoticed. We realize too late that we strayed onto an unsafe path, where our own peace of mind relied on the inconsistent and unpredictable reactions of other people. On this dangerous path our invaluable peace of mind could be shattered by someone else’s parking ticket, bad hair day, headache, or countless other challenges that we all face on a daily basis.
We face the same risk when we try to find happiness in our youth, appearance, the stock market, health, or any other aspect of our ever-changing existence. So on what do we rest our peace of mind in order to walk a safer path?
A man from the Dagara people in Africa pointed out that the Dagara elders “chose to focus their energies where they really count – on matters of the soul.” Compliments and words of approval are momentary joys; criticisms and disappointments are momentary challenges. The key is to see them all in balance from a larger perspective of what is most important to us now, ten years from now, and throughout our lives on earth. Staying centered in who we are, and why we’re here, can help keep our feet firmly planted on a safer path.
As you face moment-to-moment choices this week, may you choose a balanced path aligned with your own personal values!
Dr, Deb,
I think this is good information and the timing is spot on for me.
Best Regards,
Tom
Wonderful morning post as always. Thank you, Dr. Deb!
Thanks Tom, I'm so glad the timing was right (synchronicity!) And thanks Yumi, I hope your week is off to a good start!
deb.. this is so important and true.. one that I need to remind myself of over and over.. being in a customer request business.. it has been hard for me to not let people coming back to me, or leaving me affect my thoughts about who i am. If I can stop and see the things you said above and realize it is not personal, and will it matter 10 years from now i will probably live on less of a rollercoaster.. thank you so much
Thank you for the great advice Dr. Deb and it it is perfect timing for me as well. Just to add a bit on that, the criticisms and praises alike comes based on how much you are aligned or not on someone elses path not necessarily your owns, in addition to bad hair days and so many bad and good other things… So better watch out and not jepardize your own !!! Thank you for sharing this invaluable insights with us…
Thank You! Dr. Deb. Insights and knowledge for a balanced living was well received in time.
Dr Deb, you are right on, on this one. Thank you for the reminder.
I like an Intent I read here on Intent, "no outside force can disturb my inner peace".
living outside one's self has no balance.
Thank You! Dr. Deb. Insights and knowledge for a balanced living was well received in time.