The Road Less Traveled

The Road Less Traveled

“Two roads diverged in a wood, I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.”
—Robert Frost

I love the idea of second chances. Each day brings an opportunity to begin again, re-chart our course, and turn over a new leaf.

We often find ourselves standing at a crossroads—one path easy and familiar, the other more challenging and uncertain. The easy path is well-worn; many have taken it before, and so have we. It’s the road of broken commitments, abandoned goals, and past disappointments.

In The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck highlights the importance of personal discipline, which he defines through four essential skills:

1. The ability to delay gratification
2. Accepting responsibility for our decisions
3. A dedication to truth
4. The ability to prioritize

Peck opens the book with a simple yet profound statement: “Life is difficult.” Much of our dysfunction, he argues, stems from trying to avoid this truth. It is hard to delay gratification and even harder to accept responsibility for our choices. When we take the easy road, we make excuses. These excuses, if unchecked, become the lies we tell ourselves. And when truth is avoided, priorities slip out of place, because most things that truly matter are difficult—and easy to neglect.

At every crossroads, we have the same choice. We already know where the easy path leads. But what if we chose the harder path this time—the one where we face life’s challenges head-on?

There’s an old proverb: “All discipline seems painful at the moment, but in the end, it yields the rewards of right living.” When we understand that life is about overcoming challenges and seek help beyond ourselves, we eventually do overcome.

I often tell new clients to try what I call the “crappy day test.” Here’s how it works: On the worst day of the week, when everything has gone wrong and you feel like skipping your workout, go to the gym anyway. Then, notice how good you feel afterward. In over twenty-four years, no one has ever told me this test didn’t work.

Why? Because of the endorphins released by exercise and the psychological boost from facing a challenge head-on—and overcoming it. Even small victories feel empowering. So go ahead, try the “crappy day test.”

And take the road less traveled. Let’s embrace challenges instead of seeking instant gratification. Let’s take responsibility and make the tough decisions. Let’s seek truth, living honestly in thought, word, and action. No more excuses.

Let’s put this into a practical plan:

• Write out the challenges you want to face and commit to meeting them without excuses.
• When you find yourself making an excuse, stop and evaluate your thoughts.
• Become a seeker of truth. Refuse to believe the lies you tell yourself.
• Write down your real priorities and structure your life around them.

It’ll make all the difference. Call or text me: at 410-598-4074.