Just a thought on the Path of Least Resistance, Ed. We all seek it because it makes sense. It's like a train staying on the tracks - it moves a lot easier and faster than a derailed train.
In my profession as a counselor, I spend a lot of time helping people to learn to avoid the paths of least resistance in their lives. Usually they are taking the easy way, without looking at the long-term consequences. It is a difficult journey to change the path of least resistance, but sometimes short-term pain leads to long-term gain. It is counterintuitive to sign up for short-term pain when there is an easier tried-and-tested path of least resistance.
Of course, I realize the business world and stock market operate in a different model than behavioral health. Otherwise... my stock portfolio would be worth a heck-of-a-lot more than it is! :)
Have a great day and keep up your terrific writing. I always enjoy your substack.
Thank you Lois for the thoughtful comment! No doubt the personal path of least resistance is seductive and my guess is that we have all succumbed to it at one time or another. A key aspect of finding the right path is knowing where you want to end up! If I am in a dead end job that I hate but financial security is critically important to me then I may stay in the job. I call these types of jobs "Golden Handcuffs." But if work satisfaction is my end goal then that path would likely require me leaving because the odds of me finding happiness in my current job are pretty slim. Yes ... in the short term it will not be the path of least resistance but ,viewed from a longer term perspective, changing jobs is my path of least resistance because my ultimate path to job happiness will eventually wind up with me working someplace else. Thank you for reading!
Just a thought on the Path of Least Resistance, Ed. We all seek it because it makes sense. It's like a train staying on the tracks - it moves a lot easier and faster than a derailed train.
In my profession as a counselor, I spend a lot of time helping people to learn to avoid the paths of least resistance in their lives. Usually they are taking the easy way, without looking at the long-term consequences. It is a difficult journey to change the path of least resistance, but sometimes short-term pain leads to long-term gain. It is counterintuitive to sign up for short-term pain when there is an easier tried-and-tested path of least resistance.
Of course, I realize the business world and stock market operate in a different model than behavioral health. Otherwise... my stock portfolio would be worth a heck-of-a-lot more than it is! :)
Have a great day and keep up your terrific writing. I always enjoy your substack.
Thank you Lois for the thoughtful comment! No doubt the personal path of least resistance is seductive and my guess is that we have all succumbed to it at one time or another. A key aspect of finding the right path is knowing where you want to end up! If I am in a dead end job that I hate but financial security is critically important to me then I may stay in the job. I call these types of jobs "Golden Handcuffs." But if work satisfaction is my end goal then that path would likely require me leaving because the odds of me finding happiness in my current job are pretty slim. Yes ... in the short term it will not be the path of least resistance but ,viewed from a longer term perspective, changing jobs is my path of least resistance because my ultimate path to job happiness will eventually wind up with me working someplace else. Thank you for reading!