A famous poem, The Road Not Taken, written by Robert Frost, summarizes the choices many often face.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

This poem captures the essence of decisions you will face in life. As you ponder your options and choose, you wonder if this is the right decision. Should I take this one that most people follow, or should I choose the one that few or no one has followed?

These decisions can involve your career, relationships, or a new venture in life. Often taking the path most people take can be easy; however, what if you choose a different direction? This article will discuss taking the less traveled road to improve your life.

Here is a summary of the guidelines we will discuss:

• Embrace your identity
• Explore new opportunities
• Step out of your comfort zone
• Move at your own pace
• Be a contributor

I am glad that you are here. Let’s get started!

Embrace your identity

We are unique, with particular characteristics that make up our identity. For example, some are introverted, while others may be extroverted. Some people learn through reading or observations, while others are more hands-on.

Some gifts or talents may come naturally to you, while another person must work hard to develop those same talents or traits.

Whatever gift or talent you have is essential and valuable to this world.

Most importantly, you do not have to be anyone other than yourself. So embrace your true self, and never be afraid to be yourself.

Explore new opportunities

The path of life can lead to opportunities that, with some, you may have never explored before. Yet, often, these opportunities are hidden from the beaten path.

This can be because you were unaware they existed or may not have been exposed to them.

How do you find these opportunities?

New opportunities are discovered by expanding your social network to meet new people and experience new things. Other ways include reading books or taking a class to learn a new skill. Better yet, make learning a lifetime habit so that you continuously grow and develop new interests.

Step out of your comfort zone

Your comfort zone is that place that makes you feel safe, secure, and protected. But, unfortunately, it is not always easy to leave this place.

Leaving your comfort zone can involve risks and possibly experiencing failure. However, the benefit of taking these risks is to gain experience, knowledge, and wisdom.

Taking a risk does not have to involve some hazardous, life-threatening situation. Instead, think of taking a risk as doing something that pushes you to go beyond what you are accustomed to.

Examples can vary from learning how to paint to programming computers. The idea is to explore the possibility of doing something different that challenges you to grow and develop options to do more things with your life.

Move at your own pace

Have you ever tried to get on a busy highway while ongoing traffic seems to be moving at hundred miles an hour? This can be stressful, especially when entering the traffic to reach your destination.

This is how life can be for many of us. We see others moving faster and need to keep up or blend in quickly to avoid getting run over.

Life does not always have to be fast-paced. Sometimes you have to learn to slow down and move at your own pace instead of trying to move at the speed of others.

Learn to find your place by adjusting your speed. This may involve moving into a slower lane or taking a longer scenic route to allow you time to develop and grow at your own pace.

Take time to enjoy and experience life as you are passing through. There are many lessons to be learned as you travel along the way.

Be a contributor

It has been said that we are all stewards here on earth. A steward is responsible for looking after or managing someone else’s affairs.

Being a good steward involves giving or contributing.

Instead of asking what others can do for you, stop and ask yourself what you can do for others. When we contribute to making life better for others, we open the doorway to a path full of unique opportunities.

It is not always the most popular or most traveled path, but it can lead to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Final Thoughts

We have examined the guidelines to follow in taking the road less traveled. These included embracing your identity, exploring new opportunities, stepping out of your comfort zone, moving at your own pace, and contributing to help others.

At the end of this journey, we will leave a story or legacy behind. Live your life in such a way that you have no regrets. If you have a dream to pursue or a goal to accomplish, never be afraid to follow it.

By taking the road less traveled, you never know where it will lead you.

Thank you for visiting. Please share your comments or ideas you have used to take the road less traveled in your life.