Remember those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books as a kid? My friends loved them. They said you could read them over and over again and it was like multiple books in one.
I found them stressful.
Why?
Because what if I chose wrong?
I’m realizing how deep that fear has actually run through my life. Wanting to choose my own adventure…but fearing choosing the wrong path. What if I choose the wrong school? The wrong friends? The wrong relationship? The wrong career? The wrong house? The wrong gym? The wrong fill in the blank – because the possibilities are endless.
One of the lessons I’m learning is to truly believe there is good in every path. Let that sink in... There is good in every path.
Regardless of the path I take – of the adventure I choose – there will be times where I mess up, times where I do things wrong, times where I get hurt, times where I feel stuck, times where I want to give up, times that are hard, times where I am afraid…
And when that happens, I’ll be okay...
If I mess up – I’ll be okay.
If I do things wrong – I’ll be okay.
If I lose money – I’ll be okay.
If I get stuck – I’ll be okay.
If I want to give up – I’ll be okay.
If I do give up – I’ll be okay.
If times are hard – I’ll be okay.
If I’m afraid – I’ll be okay.
If I get hurt – I’ll be okay.
Whether I bravely choose the unknown of an adventure I want, or choose to play it safe, I’m going to experience all of the above.
So why not experience all of that while pursuing what I truly want?
What I’m sitting in now is the realization that there is good in every path. Even the ones where it seems like I’ve messed up or done things wrong or things don't make sense or it just really sucks – there’s still good in there somewhere if I’m willing to look for it and remember that I’ll be okay. Especially if at the end of the day, I know what I want is on the other side of whatever hard thing I'm facing. Wow, the freedom that brings.
There is good in every path.
I’m reminding myself of that – and I encourage you to embrace it too. There is good in every path. Have grace for your journey, and the one everyone else is on too.
Take that risk, go on that adventure, step into the unknown without all the answers, go after what you want even if it scares you - there's good there; and remember - everything will be okay.