It’s important to maintain a focused mindset to maintain success. Nobody said it better than Miyamoto Musashi in the Book of Five Rings when he said that “it is imperative to carefully distinguish between the paths of flourishing and the paths of decline in every single thing you do.”
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Let’s unpack this mantra to gain enlightenment. In today’s challenging world where we are overwhelmed with options when actions occur, whether initiated by us or not, it becomes very important to carefully make that distinction between paths that lead to positive outcomes (paths of flourishing) and the paths that lead to negative outcomes (paths of decline).
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First off, a path isn’t a single event, but instead, it’s a series of sequences over an undetermined period of time. Consider it a direction that a person embarks on when decisions impact them and each decision directs their path, whether positively or negatively. A path is fluid with no definite end as it’s sync to your actions so you can change its direction when feeling off-course and end a path when needed. The outcomes, good and bad, from previous paths will remain, but you always have the opportunity to blossom if you choose the proper path. Actions as well as inaction will determine your unique path, which provides you with definition as a person.
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Similar to a tree growing extended branches, people can be marching in multiple types of paths simultaneously. A good or bad habit, or the smallest action, assists in solidifying the path that you’ve chosen by eliciting repeated confirming actions and depending on the choice made, it provides repercussions or rewards. It’s important to note that not all rewards are awarded to good habits just as not all repercussions are casted upon those with bad habits. It’s about growth and progressing upward and onward.
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While on your path(s), difficulties, challenges and struggles will present themselves, but this doesn’t mean that you have fallen on a path of decline. Many growth spurts come in the form of these obstacles that must be overcome in order to progress. You have to learn to crawl before you can walk and by facing and conquering these obstacles confirm that you can proceed forward on your path. Be fearless and follow that gut instinct. By using your feelings, gut instinct and getting in-tune with your Self, you are able to identify and confirm the type of paths available. Each person must understand their role in this world and the impact of their role on others. Be honest with yourself, spend the time to determine what your strengths are, where your true loves live, where your gaps exist and how you can provide support to others.
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Frustration and angst will occur as the first steps are always the hardest and we can’t enjoy a downhill until you’ve first climbed the mountain, so prepare yourself and by continuing to build your momentum using the successes that you’ve accomplished, no matter how big or small, you’ll see the shining light at the end of the tunnel. During those difficult times, search your feelings to help identify the type of path that you’re on. If your path feels filled with complaining, anger, hate and negativity, then it’s safe to say that you’re continuing down a path of decline and you should immediately cease those actions. Stop complaining, stop being angry, stop hating, stop being negative, etc. Stop!
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Start reflecting back on yourself to determine your desires and how to achieve them and then, take action to confirm that desire that you’re leading and wanting. It’s requires constant discipline to stay true to the path. A person can respectfully take the time to acknowledge the negative moment, but one must quickly shake-off this mindset to determine a solution that leads on a path of flourishing, even without a clear direction. This solution may take time to find and implement, but by staying true to your path of flourishing, you’re effectively building success. Most importantly, people need to acknowledge, recognize and celebrate the successes, big and small, to maintain momentum, high morale and confirm that you’re still on a path of flourishing.
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So, by focusing your efforts and energy on maintaining a path of flourishing in all aspects of your daily living, no matter how big or small, you’re effectively training your body, mind and spirit to acknowledge negativity and overcome it through consistent positive actions. We can easily get distracted and revert to blaming others, focusing on the current negative moment, seeking vengeance, etc. as opposed to moving forward from the challenge, gaining the lesson and continuing on your path of flourishing. By placing so much attention on the negative, you overlook the positive and miss the exit to your path of flourishing.
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Pay attention to the present, to your behaviour, to your actions and to the outcome of those actions in order to start understanding the connection we have with all of the universal forces. No matter how big or small that action may be, it resonates through the universe at that same frequency and vibration and will leave an impact.
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Internalize your Self to determine which path of flourishing you are marching on. Determine if all of the actions that lead you to the final destination vibrate a positive frequency, or must you go down paths of decline to obtain the reward? Before you make an important decision and take action, consider if the outcomes of that decision and actions that are required will lead you down a path of flourishing as opposed to a path of decline.