Avoid The False Path

I've been reading Robert Greene's The Daily Law since the beginning of 2026 (it's a page-a-day book, my favorite) and today's was about not following the path you think you're supposed to take because of outside sources, i.e. your parents.

I know there are a lot of people out there who have felt that pressure to follow in footsteps, to make something of themselves for someone else's status, or to be more than who came before them so their life can be easier. Those all make sense, and we each know plenty of people that would fall into those categories.

I, personally, never felt that push. I was always an artsy kid, I liked to draw, I liked music, I liked movies and tv shows - all forms of art. My parents never pushed me into liking something I didn't naturally feel drawn to (pun intended). My dad is a mechanical engineer, my mother is an educator. There was never any sense from them they wanted me to be a copy + paste of their life's path, they simply provided guidelines of being a good person who was able to live out my life in a responsible way and make decisions based on factors that are important. Did that always translate to my path? Not so much in my late teens and early 20's, but those are the times for sprinkling a little crazy into ones life, right? Right? Right.

"At the center of your being you have the answer, you know who you are and you know what you want." - Lao Tzu

Even if there were good intentions behind the steering of someone to a certain path; be it comfort or safety, or having money so as to not struggle, there is an inherent rebellion inside each of us that knows when it's not the path for us. This is not to say that following your own path will not also lead to that comfort, safety, and avoid struggles. It likely will, just not in the way the outside forces would expect. It simply means that you won't have that inner turmoil and regret from not following your true path. As Lao Tzu says, "At the center of your being you have the answer, you know who you are and you know what you want."

Being rebellious is often seen as bad and/or discouraged as a daily practice. Though, finding and following your true path demands it of you. You must be rebellious to protect your innate sense of self. Rebel against the norms you see that make your feathers bristle. Rebel against people who look at you like you're crazy when you're simply doing what your path has revealed to you. Not only to be rebellious, but be radical. While you're at it, let your sense of rebellion fill you with energy and purpose.

"Let your sense of rebellion fill you with energy and purpose."

The word radical comes from the latin word meaning "root". Because it is understood as the essential, the fundamentals of something just as the root of a vegetable is what grounds it (another pun intended?). Often, when people think of someone acting radically it is paired with revolutions, progressive actions, and even sometimes anarchy. What I find most interesting is that when people are putting forth radical ideas or starting revolutions it is to get back to what is essential, what is fundamental. Even progressive policies seem so matter-of-fact when you really think about them. Taking care of each other, helping the downtrodden, getting the sick help - these are basic fundamentals to what makes us human beings.

So be radical. Be rebellious. But most of all, be yourself. Follow your true path.