Life often brings us to a crossroad. Looking back, we can trace how we reached where we are, some because of our own doing and some because of circumstances. Whatever be the reason, it is the way ahead that we need to decide upon, and often we find ourselves standing at a crossroad.

There could be a path that may be safe, less risky but would mean compromising our ambition and plans. Or we could venture down the path of trying to fulfill our dreams and ambition, even in the face of headwinds.

There could be a path of living in a relationship where we don’t feel the way we used to, for the sake of all those dependent on us. Or we could walk the path of starting a new chapter in our life by moving beyond unhappy relationships.

There could be a path of living in our comfort zone, doing what we have always known, but living with the niggling feeling that the world around us is changing faster than we are. Or we could walk the unknown path, deliberately throwing ourselves out of our comfort zone, trying to reinvent ourselves.

There could be a path of living with agreement most of the time for the sake of maintaining peace and harmony, even at the cost of feeling stifled. Or we could surface deep differences to reset relationships, even at the risk of them breaking.

There could be a path of giving expression to our deeper interests and passions, more as a hobby and in the time we find available from important things. Or we could make our deeper interests the very purpose of our life and reshape what we do and how we do it.

Ideally, we would want to know the future outcome of each path and then decide. But life doesn’t work that way, which is why standing at a crossroad becomes so very difficult sometimes. We never know what would have happened had we chosen differently. We may not understand the larger design and scheme of life. But if we allow ourselves to develop the faith that our inner voice will correctly steer us, and that we will get in our share the set of experiences meant for us, we will then realise that crossroads are opportunities for us to examine the strength of our clarity, conviction and most importantly courage.

When we decide to do what ‘feels right’, not from ego but from a deep sense within which others maybe cannot understand, but only we can feel, we will know we have walked down the right road when at the crossroad.

(Picture-Jasper National Park, Canada)