ever taken the easy way out?

[nefse]

so, i was thinking about my career decisions and goals. I thought of the times in school i avoided certain classes because they were hard. I took a couple, failed because i never really tried and convinced myself that i wasn't meant to be "this, or that" career wise and change majors and did something else. Have you ever been afraid of hard work and just took the easy way? At work, school, relationship, etc... Have you run away from a challenge?

[James81]

I think of something that is "hard" as something that I really really don't want to do. And, in that vein, I look at whether I *have* to do it or whether I could just not do it and go do the things I want to do.

The things that I *have* to do (responsibilities) become easier if I find a perspective that inspires me to do them. The things that I don't have to do, become really easy to let go of if I just give myself permission to do so.

[rumi]

I do it more often these days. It surprises me every time.

[Captain Drywall]

I took the easy way out many years ago. I went to work in a trade instead of going to college. I made lots of money, spent lots of money. Now i have beat up body and no degree. Do the hard work.

[Bing Wu]

Yes, I have taken the easy way out, and I've also braced myself for the hard way.

In my experience, every time you take the easy way out you deprive yourself of growth and a learning experience. Your self-esteem also takes a hit even if you don't acknowledge it at the time.

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by Alex Wu

Yes, I have taken the easy way out, and I've also braced myself for the hard way.

In my experience, every time you take the easy way out you deprive yourself of growth and a learning experience. Your self-esteem also takes a hit even if you don't acknowledge it at the time.

wow I was totally going to say this -

but yes Alex is right
look at everything that way -ask yourself everyday
'what can I learn from this'

[Mondrian]

I can relate to this.

Nowadays I think that if i see some possible course of action as the 'hard way' or as 'hard work' then I have already gone wrong. I'm not sure any way is hard or easy in itself, more the perspective we see it from sets it up as hard or easy.

Also, do we not mostly in a sense take the easiest way to feel better or survive? For example, it might be easy to eat and eat and hard to stop but when we get to the point that we are severely harming our body and feeling lousy it becomes much easier to stop eating and hard to keep eating.

[aelle]

Yes. But I don't equate "easy" with "unchallenging". Sometimes deciding to tackle something that's out of my comfort zone is an easy decision to make and to maintain, because I know it will make me feel more happy and accomplished. If what makes you happy is always within your comfort zone, then I guess you are extra golden!

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by nefse

Have you run away from a challenge?

My life is very challenging.

Because I am always creating big new challenges for myself. A bad habit of mine.

Yes, I run away from some of them, but I also accept and live up to many of them.

In the end, it's all a game. And you play it as hard as you like. Or not so hard, if you don't like.

Don't worry, you can always have as many challenges as you like. It's just a a matter of setting a greater or lesser number of bigger or smaller goals, for yourself.