Pathwalking 56
While Pathwalking is a personal, singular choice, this does not mean that outside forces are wholly invalid.
I often talk about not letting outside influences dissuade you from your path. But sometimes those outside influences cannot be wholly ignored.
Oh great. Another paradox. This is true, it IS another paradox. But it can’t be ignored either. And yes, this can be a complication in matters…but let me explain the thought process.
Diets almost never work. Limiting what you eat for a time might take off some weight. But if you do not adjust your habits in a meaningful way, it’ll come back and bring more. Exercise is good for you. However, in excess, exercise can produce some harmful consequences to the body. Finding a proper balance of diet and exercise is the perfect metaphor for finding balance in Pathwalking.
I constantly state that Pathwalking is about MY choices. It is what I want to do with my life. Rather than let life make the choices for me, I will make the choices for life. I have railed against outside influences in previous posts. However, they cannot be completely ignored, either.
The difference in outside influence to ignore versus outside influence to consider is a balancing act. And what it comes down to is choice. Have I chosen wisely?
Yes, this is a paradox. In especial with all the times I have mentioned not letting outside influences sway your path. But consider this: What if the choice you are making might have a very negative consequence that you cannot see yourself? What if the person trying to influence you is doing so for your best interests, and not in a manner that is trying to control you?
See, that’s one of the key reasons for Pathwalking – control. Controlling MY choices, MY destiny, MY life. I don’t want the choices made for me by others – I want to be the maker of the choices. But sometimes I can only see part of the picture overall. There is nearly always a facet not visible to my eye.
I have said for a long time now that Truth comes in three brands – Mine, Yours, and The Absolute. Sometimes these are harmonious…and sometimes, not so much. However, if Your brand of the truth is closer to The Absolute than My brand of truth, and I am willing to explore that, it might lead somewhere I need and want to be.
There are questions to consider.
Who is the outside influence? Is it someone you love and/or trust and respect, or someone who holds no place in your life? A friend, family member, mentor, peer…or an acquaintance, politician, random stranger? (And by all means, if a random stranger is shouting at you to duck so as not to be hit by something, duck!) But when it’s a matter of Pathwalking, how does this person relate to your life and your choices?
What is the motivation of the outside influence? Are they trying to maintain control over you, or are they just showing care and concern? Why are they trying to influence you? Are they trying to help you, or stop you? Are they genuinely trying to be helpful, or obstructionist?
How are they trying to influence you? Are they making suggestions? Demanding? Cajoling? Coercing? Nagging? Questioning? Are they trying to get you to see their point of view, or a different facet of your own path?
And like all things in Pathwalking, you have to make a judgment call. Explore the influence, or ignore it.
If an outside influence is trying to assist you, then it might be worth looking into it. If that influence is trying to control you, in all probability it is not going to be helpful to you. But it’s best not to completely ignore these without validating or invalidating them.
Yes, this adds a whole new layer of complexity to this philosophy, but Pathwalking in all its layers is still more worthwhile to me than letting life just pass me by. I want to have control over how I live my life, and Pathwalking is a choice in favor of that.
Striking the balance and dealing with the paradoxes can seem a bit overwhelming. But that, my friends, is life. Life is full of paradox, full of uncertainty. Pathwalking is about making your own order out of the chaos. And I firmly believe it to be a worthwhile endeavor.
Is the outside influence a guide or a hindrance?
This is the fifty-sixth entry in my series. These weekly posts are specifically about walking along the path of life, and my desire to make a difference in this world along the way. Thank you for joining me.
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