“Many years ago, a man left his hometown to join his fiancée. They were going to get married as soon as he arrived.
During the trip, the man thought it would be good for him to take a different route than the one he usually took to get to his fiancée’s house. He decided to take a new route, one that would be more comfortable and that would promise new adventures.
Little by little, his steps took him far away. He passed through different towns and met many people. Each time, he discovered more interesting things that encouraged him to continue forward, without looking back.
So he spent years walking a path that really led him nowhere. Until one day he felt tired and adventures were no longer a novelty. Seeing new faces every day confused him and he missed the warmth of a home. So he decided to go back.
However, when he returned he discovered that his fiancée had gotten married. After so many years without any news from him, she had thought him dead.
The man, now old and poor, was left alone, regretting the moment when he had decided to change his course.“
This is an old Norwegian legend that can have different interpretations but that also allows us to reflect on how important it is to not lose our way in life and not be tempted by the distractions that appear on our path.
What does this legend teach us?
1. It is essential to determine what we want and focus on it
We often go through life letting ourselves be carried away by circumstances, acting by inertia and letting the situation or others decide for us. However, in this way, one day we will wake up and realize that we have not fulfilled our dreams or that we are leading a life that is not what we wanted. Therefore, if you want to achieve something important, you must set your own objectives, identify your goals clearly and, above all, be willing to fight to achieve them. Always keep in mind this great phrase by Seneca: “ To those who do not know which port to head for, no wind is favorable .”
2. If we don’t ignore distracting elements, we won’t get anywhere
Sometimes we start the work day with a precise objective in mind, but when night falls, we realize that we have not achieved it. We have been busy with other tasks, much less important. In life, these distracting elements multiply. Therefore, if we do not stay alert, they will take us away from the path we had set out for ourselves, make us forget our goals and, when we want to turn back, it may be too late. Therefore, it is essential to know how to prioritize and have a clear hierarchy of needs. Find out what the distracting elements are that can take you away from the path and have a plan ready to counteract them. Remember that it is not enough to know what you want, it is also important to know what you do not want.
3. Only the most authentic passions have the strength to keep us on the path
Sometimes our mind plays tricks on us. For example, the man in the story may not have been in love enough with his fiancée to rush to get married and so he decided to take a longer route. Sometimes procrastination is a message from our subconscious, telling us that we are not enjoying the journey or that the goal is not really as important as we want to make ourselves believe. Therefore, before setting a goal that may require years of sacrifice, it is important to be sure that it is motivating enough to keep us focused along the way. Only the passions that come from our deepest self can become a driving force of our behavior that brings us happiness.
4. Every decision has consequences
No one is an island on their own. Our decisions always have repercussions on the people closest to us, who may be our parents, partner, children or friends. The man in the story, for example, did not take into account the repercussions that his decision would have on his fiancée. And although it is sad to admit it, we often act like that man, making decisions and expecting others to abide by them, without realizing how much they can affect them. Therefore, before making an important decision, it is essential that you consider the impact it will have on the people you love. Ask yourself: Is it really necessary to ask them to make that sacrifice? Is there another way that could hurt the people around you less?
5. Even goals can expire
John L. Mason said: “Ideas have an expiration date; that is why we must act before that date.” This American inventor was referring to the fact that it is important to act as soon as possible, to seize the opportunity, because the favorable conditions we have today can change tomorrow. Postponing decisions, perhaps out of fear or waiting for greater certainty, can cause us to miss an opportunity that will not come again. Therefore, although certain projects can sometimes excite us, it is advisable to ask yourself: What joys are you missing by delaying the decision? What dreams are you leaving behind by taking a different path? Is it really worth it?
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