Even if the paths are miles apart from each other.
It took me a while to understand that we don’t all have the same goals in life and it took me even longer to realize that it’s really okay if the paths we walk are different from each other.
People take different roads to seek fulfillment and happiness. Just because they are not on your road, it doesn’t mean they are lost.
Dalai Lama
There is one profound element that lots of people miss and that is respecting the choice if someone wants to walk a different path than yours. Maybe you would have walked the same direction if you would have been in their shoes.
I’ve been very blessed that my parents let me choose my own paths. Along the way I fell a couple of times but I always managed to get back up. Lesson learned they probably thought. They might not always have agreed with my choices but they always respected them and I thank them for that.
You’ll often find yourself at a crossroad, not knowing which one to take next. Flipping a coin just doesn’t work here. You need to take a decision, take the path that already has been walked upon before or go for the new one. It’s scary, you are afraid of what other people will think.
It will always be scary, every time you’ll find yourself at that crossroad. It only shows you are growing as an individual. Doing something unique is terrifying for everyone.
Just don’t wait for the fear to pass to follow your unique path, by the time the fear has settled, someone else will already have cleared the way.
When you’ve overcome your fear and made the decision to go the opposite direction, then persist. See where it will take you and get over the obstacles that will be put in your way. Learn and grow but persist!
But most importantly, respect the path others are walking, even if you disagree. Let them know that you’ll be there if they need advice or guidance. Rest asure that they can be happy even if they seek fulfillment in a different way than yours or if their goals in life are opposite from yours.
Try to see where they are coming from and you might just find it easier to understand their reasoning. Because maybe someday, you’ll find yourself on their path.