16 Feb When The Path You’re On Isn’t For You

Posted at 09:30h in GI SAID IT, Philosophy, Psychology, Values by

If the path you’re on doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t; simple as that. It’s too easy to get stuck chasing something society, family, or even your own terrified brain has convinced you is “the right thing to do.” But here’s a cold, hard reality check; what’s “right” on paper means nothing if it’s not right for you.

The truth is, you can’t walk every path, or succeed on every path, because we all have limitations and different situations. Whether it’s your resources, your strengths, your network, or even your ability to deal with the grind and hustle of a specific route, it matters. And the worst thing you can do is keep lying to yourself about something that clearly isn’t working just because it “should” work.

KNOW WHO YOU ARE

Before you even start thinking about your path, ask yourself one real question, “Do I actually know myself?”

What are your strengths? Be honest.
What are your weaknesses? Don’t sugarcoat it.
What resources do you actually have? Money, time, energy, people? If you don’t have the tools for the job, stop pretending you do as that will only harm you in the end.
And beyond that, dig deeper into your why. Why do you feel the way you do? Why do you make the choices you make? Are there patterns, fears, or trauma lingering in the background dictating your emotions and decisions without you even noticing? Fix your foundation first.

FORGET “BEST PRACTICES”, FIND WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU

The business world loves buzzwords like “best practice.” Best practices are useless if they don’t align with your reality.

Do you have what it takes to compete in that market?
Do you have a product or service people actually want, or are you chasing what you’re emotionally obsessed with?
Can you afford the competition? Or are you walking onto the field armed with a kiddie water balloon while everyone else has grenade launchers?
Stop downloading blueprints for success from people who designed them for a completely different scenario. Your best path is unique to you, your circumstances, and the resources within reach.

DON’T BE LED BY EMOTION

Feelings are important as they tell us things we may need to know. But they’re also 3 year old no shame boldface liars when it comes to strategic decisions.

If something scares you, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It might actually be the best choice for you, but fear can make you choose the easy path instead. Btw, easy doesn’t mean better. The same goes for passion. Being passionate doesn’t equal guaranteed success. Passion without logic is just a setup for disappointment and failure.

Learn to separate emotions from decisions. Be objective about your situation. Sometimes the best path is uncomfortable because it’s the one that requires growth.

PERSONALIZE YOUR STRATEGY

Whether you’re plotting your career, life goals, or business moves, cookie-cutter strategies will fail you.

The best strategies are customized to fit YOU:

Your Strengths? What are you naturally great at? Build around that.
Your Weaknesses? What could derail you? Mitigate it.
Your Resources? What do you actually have to work with? Stop planning million-dollar ideas with a $3.50 budget.
And optimize as you go. A strategy isn’t always carved in stone. Try things, fail fast, and pivot when necessary . That’s how real growth happens.

STOP ROMANTICIZING THE GRIND

I’m going to be real about something here. Hustle culture is “toxic” when used by the wrong hands (ie it’s not your working style). Grinding for the sake of grinding is just stupidity wrapped in motivational quotes. Work toward something with purpose, not just for productivity’s sake.

There’s no trophy for burning out chasing a dream that was never meant for you. If you’re constantly running on empty, it’s probably because you’re working against your natural flow and forcing something that doesn’t fit.

BE BRUTALLY HONEST ABOUT YOUR GOALS

You need to get crystal clear about what you actually want and need. There’s a huge difference between the two.

Is this a need you’re willing to fight like your life depended on it?
Or is it just a want that sounds nice but doesn’t light a fire in you?
Some paths are worth everything. Some aren’t worth your time. Figure it out before you waste precious energy on the wrong one.

GI Griffin is a brutally honest cultural commentator and author, founder of The Tribe Academy, and host of the GI SAID IT show where bold perspective meets unfiltered truth. Known for his no-BS insights on human behavior and modern culture, GI challenges conventional thinking, exposes uncomfortable truths, and delivers bold insights for independent minds. View his show & essays here, or subscribe to his FREE newsletter here.

 

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