Change Your Ways – Improve Your Life
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost / The Road Not Taken
I guess Robert Frost didn’t have self-improvement advice in mind when he wrote his famous poem “The Road Not Taken”. It makes for a fantastic tip, though, so I’ll borrow the last verse to explain how changing your ways can improve your life.
The importance of the roads you take
Humans are creatures of habit. Once we find something that we like, we usually stick to it. This is true for food, holiday locations, pets, brands, and, interestingly for us, the roads we take to get from point A to point B.
But routes are more than just a means to get as fast as possible to your desired destination. We pass all kinds of interesting things and events on our ways. The problem is, that many of us don’t notice these little gems anymore. It has become routine – tunnel vision on.
The cute girl that’s selling T-shirts on the corner is merely a blurred object in the corner of our sight, as we haste by. Beauty – in architecture, nature, human life, or weather – is not even being noticed anymore. There is so much to explore that remains hidden to us just because we always take the fast route!
A new way of living
Tomorrow when you schlep yourself to work, or school, why not take a new way? I am not talking about a mile long detour. Just a few blocks in a different direction or a different source of transport will do the trick. If you always travel by public transport, how about riding the bike tomorrow? If you commute by car, why not ride the bus once in a while?
“Why” you ask?
What if you meet someone on the way? What if you find a cool new venue that you can bring friends or dates to? What if you find the new path more appealing than the traffic jam that drives your blood pressure into air voided heights?
Anything is possible!
Sometimes all it takes is a slight change – a breakout of an old routine. A turn left where you’d usually go straight.
Change your ways, also mentally
It’s time to change up your ways, my friend! Not only geographically, but also mentally.
A new path of thinking needs to be trampled!
Is there anything in your life that you always wanted to do but had a myriad of excuses why you couldn’t? This is your sign to dump those excuses.
What about your relationships? Is there someone who you always wanted to ask out? Is there someone who you would like to say, “I love you” to? Do you want to apologize to anyone?
Tomorrow is your day!
Find new ways. Open up your eyes for novelty. I guarantee you, that your life won’t just be more fulfilling, but you will also become a more interesting and attractive person on the journey.
It’s time to change your ways and improve your life!
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.-Robert Frost / The Road Not Taken