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Choosing the So-Called “Easy Path” is not Easy
The “easy path” is what leads many people to depression, anxiety, and the like.
What is the easy path? The easy path is the conventional path. It’s doing the expected and shoehorning yourself into a “normal” life.
To be fair, there are people for whom this is fine. A normal, conventional life makes them content, happy, and fulfilled. I have nothing but respect for that — and if you are in that boat, more power to you.
Unfortunately, I think there are far more people for whom the conventional life is fraught with discomfort, pain, anxiety, depression, and a nagging sense that something is missing.
Modern American society has this notion that if you work long enough and hard enough you can succeed. For the most part, that looks like this: Put in your 8–12 hours a day, 5 days a week, working for “the man,” for 40+ years. Buy a house, get married, raise a family. Retire and enjoy your grandkids, travel, or do whatever excites you as a retiree. Just take the easy path and follow along and you’ll succeed.
While that works for some people — there are more for whom it doesn’t work. The “easy path” doesn’t account for diversity, alternative life choices, and anything else that might make one stand out.
