Whose Path is it Anyway?

Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited with saying, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Are you on a path of your own making or are you simply walking a road that's been laid in front of you, because everyone else is walking it? Studies on social proof show that people frequently do things without considering their motivation for it, simply because others like them are doing that thing - EVEN IF THAT THING MAKES NO GOOD SENSE. So I'm inviting you to challenge some of the choices you make, that you haven't questioned. Look closely at the beliefs you hold - are they truly yours, or were they inherited from your family or culture? Do your behaviors, choices, and beliefs truly line up with your personal ethics and values? I'm OK with following a path as long as it's aligned with my values and ethics. AND - after doing a lot of personal work to get clear on my own values and beliefs - I'm also perfectly OK with stepping off a path when it diverges from my inner compass.