On Growing to Walk the Narrow Road
Jul 03,2020
I have been struggling a lot lately. My procrastinating habits have reached their highest peak. I tend to put off working on long-term goals and poorly choose to waste my time finding out about other people’s lives via social media sites.
In finding out about other people’s lives, I see myself swimming the surface of my insecurities and eventually diving down the deep sea of ungratefulness and discontentment. I let myself compare who I am with other people my age who have already reached significant milestones. I am well aware that this is not healthy for my mind and it could slowly ruin my sense of self, but indulging in the very act of it seems to give me a temporal sense of satisfaction.
This is not and should not be who I am. I need to change. Thus, I need to reinvent myself.
The truth is, I have been constantly reinventing myself. I deactivated my social media accounts in the hopes of getting rid of the temptation to indulge in other people’s lives once more. I started a blog with the full desire for projecting my ideal self into the digital world. My ideal self whom I should look up to as an inspiration. My ideal self who have overcome all her battles and demons, and thus succeeded in choosing to walk the narrow road of life.
Based upon a biblical allegory, life’s narrow road is full of strife and tribulations. Walking that road becomes the ultimate test of character. You know what they say, how we face and overcome life’s challenges shows us who we truly are. Not many of us choose or have chosen to walk the narrow road. Some may do, but halfway through their journey they decide to quit and walk the wide road instead—a road chosen by many.
I would like to describe the wide road as one where people walking through it have followed the conventional way of life and the conventional way of thinking. These people are those who delve into the norms of society, those who have not attempted to bend the rules, and those who are afraid to take risks. Adapting oneself into life’s conventional way of thinking, or walking the wide road, does not help one to grow.
In all honesty, I was once like this then I realized: I have to grow, I need to grow, and I will grow.
Like a seed once buried in cold, hard ground, I will sprout and grow to become a mature and sturdy tree with sky-touching branches and gloriously crowning leaves. Oh, I definitely should not forget about my roots!
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and are for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Honor Society®, a private membership organization. Participation is voluntary and does not guarantee specific outcomes, including scholarships or employment. Readers should independently evaluate all information.
