It might not take a lot of thought when you choose to walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator or when you decide to cut through the grass rather than sticking to the sidewalk, but these small and sometimes thoughtless decisions have more impact on ourselves and the world around us than we give credit.
The paths we choose can shape the world around us; they can cut yellow trails of grass through green lawns, and they can wear the handrails of staircases until they shine.
But rarely do we appreciate how those chosen paths, in turn, shape us. In the same way that we leave physical impressions on the trails we follow, those trails also leave less-obvious impacts in our lives and wellbeing.
Walking through nature can ease anxiety and improve your mental health. Going someplace you’ve never been before can provide you with new experiences and make you a more well-rounded person.
Sometimes, it can lead you to a new opportunity or a better perspective, and the best part is you have complete power over which path you choose.
Many of us feel like we have no control over the world. Whether you are worried about due dates, work, relationships, politics or the future, it can be empowering to remember the little conscious choices you can make to bring control back into your life.
Even though everything may feel out of your control, where you decide to place your feet is entirely your own decision. We take for granted the tiny freedom of simply where we choose to walk, and we fail to recognize our own power over our lives.
Take a second to be mindful about where your feet take you and why you choose the paths you do, and appreciate the small ways you exert power in the world: decide to take the elevator instead of the stairs, walk through a hall you’ve never been through and go on a new path today.
So as you struggle with the stress of college and your worries about the future, practicing these little exercises of agency and recognizing the control you do have can make a world of difference.
Categories: Opinion
