No Yellow Brick Road? Follow a Better Path

By Brigit Atkin

We just made it through a doozy of a year. 2020 took us on a ride few of us imagined possible. I don’t want to go into the details of it; I just want to ask a few questions. What did you learn? Did you change for the better or for the worse? Are you more compassionate than you were a year ago, or have you become cynical and bitter?

As we move into a new year, what will we pass through? Some roads have more lions and tigers and bears than others. I wonder if Dorothy questioned the road she was on. If I were in Oz with her, I would imagine I would have suggested trying a less troublesome path than her “yellow brick road.”

If lately you feel like wicked people are forever blocking your way and houses of trouble are falling from the sky, now is a good time to reassess your path. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying includes an enlightening poem that describes the need to change tracks and find another path:

1. I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost….I am hopeless. It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.

2. I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe I am in the same place. But it isn’t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

No Yellow Brick Road?

3. I walk down the same street. {

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in….. it’s a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

4. I walk down the same street.

There is a hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

5. I walk down another street.

Are you staying on the troublesome road because it’s the only path you know? Are you staying because it’s the most difficult path, and you think difficult is good? Is there a better road you could take? Bitterness, blaming, and resentment are just some of the mindsets that will keep you on the path of potholes. But learning from tough times can foster love, forgiveness, kindness, and resilience that will put you on a smoother path as you navigate through this next year.

We don’t know what 2021 will bring. It might be more of the same; it might get worse. These are facts that are outside our control. But we can and we must control our thoughts, actions, and words. We can step out of fear and into faith. We can be grateful, even in awful circumstances. We can forgive those who have created sorrow and pain.

You have the power to be happy in difficult times. You’ve had the power all along, my dear.

About the Author Brigit Atkin – Brigit of Brightworks uses alternative healing methods to help improve the lives of others facing challenges and difficulties. She is certified in SimplyHealedTM method and was trained by founder Carolyn Cooper herself. For more information, visit www.brightworksbybrigit.com

Follow a Better Path