Two Roads Diverged

We are presented with choices all day long. Most of them are relatively minor things but there are some daily choices that make a profound difference.

I was listening to one of my colleagues discussing that there are really two paths that we may choose to take in life. The first path is the Path of Probability.  This is the path of the masses.  This is a life that tends to look a lot like everyone else around you. The person who is content to live his life on the Path of Probability is content to live in mediocrity.

The other path is called the Path of Possibility.  Those who tread this path are destined for a different outcome than the others.  Undoubtedly it is a hard path to remain on but those with persistence and tenacity; those who can hold to their vision in spite of difficulty can stay the course.

Obviously this metaphor plays out in every facet of our lives but as a wellness chiropractor I see it everyday in the various behaviors of my patients and those who consult with me.  Those on the Path of Probability say to me, ” well my dad had heart disease so I’ll probably get it and die in my 60’s like him.”  Or it may sound like, “everyone needs to die of something, so why not just enjoy life now and worry about diseases later.”  Or even, “I’m so grateful that you helped me get out of pain but I’m going to stop coming in for preventative maintenance because my schedule is pretty busy.”  (BTW, I’ve heard all three of these just this week)

So how do we recognize those on the Path of Possibility?  It often shows up when a patient says, “I can tell that I’m not as healthy as I was last year. What can you help me do to fix that?”  Or, “my mother and sisters have thyroid issues and depression and I don’t want to be like them. Can you help me get to the root of that?” And my personal favorite evidence of someone on the Path of Possibility is when a patient says, “when can I bring in my children to get adjusted. I want to make sure that they don’t have interference to their body’s ability to heal and regulate itself.”  (And yes, I’ve heard all of those comments as well…but not within the past week. That attitude isn’t as common.)

Do you want to settle for the Path of Probability?  The average American has a 1:2 chance of dying of heart disease and a 1:3 chance of developing cancer. 66% of us are overweight or obese and over 10% now have diabetes with that number climbing higher and higher every year.   Nearly everyone over 55 years of age is taking at least 1 medication to treat a chronic degenerative condition.

The Standard American Lifestyle is inflammatory, stress-driven and literally creates disease and dysfunction moment by moment.

What are you doing to combat this? Are you just going with the flow.  I’ll tell you what, if you don’t feel a bit “weird” in your behaviors and attitudes toward healthy living it is a pretty good bet you are firmly planted on the Path of Probability.  Kinda sounds harsh when I say it that bluntly.

On the other hand, if you and your family are getting regular and ongoing chiropractic care to mitigate the damaging effects of negative stress on your nerve system, you are on the Path of Possibility. If you are following my 7 Pillars of Wellness – Eat Well, Drink Well, Move Well, Sleep Well, Think Well, Play Well and Love Well – on a daily basis, you are on the Path of Possibility.  If you are consistently focusing on the impact your decisions will have on your health 1,5, or 10 years down the road, you are on the Path of Possibility.  Don’t be worried that you may seem strange to the people around you who are not yet aware that there is another path. Resist the tendency to conform to the norm.  If you want above average results in life, you have to do above average things.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.  If you feel that you are on the Path of Possibility how has it made a difference in your life?  If you struggle to get on or stay on that path. What is the biggest obstacle that is preventing it?