Take the road less travelled

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. Mathew 7:13-14

The path most travelled is also known as the path of least resistance.

The wide gate, or the path most travelled represents the choices and behaviors of the many. So many of us are consumed by what is presented to us through pop culture and media. Instead of living independent lives, we are brought a sense of comfort by doing what our friends, family and neighbors have done on a continuous basis. Being different is frowned upon and so many of us fear scrutiny and judgement from others.

However, this is not the path to happiness and prosperity.

As mentioned in the verse above, wide is the gate that leads to destruction. So many of us are consumed by vices due to that being the societal norm presented to us: drinking alcohol, doing drugs, giving into behaviors that sabotage our own mental and physical health, and mindlessly following the habits of celebrities and influencers. We are provided with a momentary sense of comfort by doing what those around us do, but deep inside, we are destroying ourselves.

The narrow path is striving to do what the herd chooses not to do. Focusing on growth and development instead of destruction, seeking challenges instead of comforts, being a creator instead of a consumer, reading books instead of watching tv and so on... It is important to be reflective and to look around us and identify commonalities. Attempting to be different and stand out will lead to success and newfound capabilities. The top 1% live their lives significantly different from the average person, so it is of value to look at the habits of the average person and go beyond that.

“It is the business of the very few to be independent; it is a privilege of the strong. And whoever attempts it, even with the best right, but without being OBLIGED to do so, proves that he is probably not only strong, but also daring beyond measure. He enters into a labyrinth, he multiplies a thousandfold the dangers which life in itself already brings with it; not the least of which is that no one can see how and where he loses his way, becomes isolated, and is torn piecemeal by some minotaur of conscience. Supposing such a one comes to grief, it is so far from the comprehension of men that they neither feel it, nor sympathize with it. And he cannot any longer go back! He cannot even go back again to the sympathy of men!” -Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil