Choosing a Path

There is often a great fear that choosing one path is not choosing any other. Potential can be overwhelming.

When there are so many paths to choose from, the decision seems monumental. And there are monumental decisions-- what career to pursue, if a relationship is right, when to start a family-- but there are also a thousand less impactful paths we encounter daily. I want to prioritize fitness but that cuts into time with my friends. I want to learn a new language, but also want to take a dance class, but if I do either of those I won't have time to knit, and I also need to prioritize down time. It's easy to get caught up in the magnitude of possibilities, that somehow time goes by, a decision is never made, and nothing changes.

There are two ways I am trying to counteract that this year.

What do I actually value?

I value connection, creativity, and curiosity. That's what drives me the most. If I cannot relate a decision back to those values, I need to reevaluate why I am putting my energy there.

Pick one thing, and do it

Just get started! Half the battle is getting beginning, and there is no way to know if you like the path you're on, unless you start walking it. Yes, the decisions we make now influence the life we're living in the future... but also you can always stop and make a new decision. Nothing is wasted, it is all experience and information. If I start a dance class and realize I hate it, I don't sign up again and try pottery next month, easy as that.

If you're like me, the "what if's" can be paralyzing. So start small, and follow through. Doing something is always better than doing nothing.