(2.6) The Royal High Road

"We cut these numerous windings in our destinies daily with our own hands, while we imagine that we are pursuing a track on the royal high road of respectability and duty, and then complain of those ways being so intricate and so dark. We stand bewildered before the mystery of our own making, and the riddles of life that we will not solve, and then accuse the great Sphinx of devouring us." -- H. P. Blavatsky

There you go again, daily cutting windings in your destiny with your own hands. You think those windings represent the track along the royal high road of respectability and duty but they don’t. As it turns out, they are so intricate and so dark that you become bewildered, unable to handle the mysteries of your own making and the riddles of life. Instead of finding yourself on the royal high road, you are mired down in the mysteries, at a loss as how to solve the riddles. Will you solve the riddles? No; and it’s that damn Sphinx’s fault. It’s devouring you.

The problem seems to be that you do one thing while imagining that you are doing another. More to the point is that you are trying to cut your own trail instead of sticking to the high road. A wise person once said, “We know better than we do.” That can be especially true when it comes to sticking to the high road.

Sticking to the high road can be quite challenging. Even so, the associated lessons all have two things in common. First, they usually are not particularly complicated. It certainly can sometimes take a while to get it; but once you do get it, the lesson is normally straight-up and to the point. Second, and here is the rub, the lessons invariably are a "So now you tell me!" kind of thing. Oh sure, hindsight is 20/20, live and learn, no one is perfect, and you are only human. Nonetheless, having learned your lesson is not much consolation once you have already missed important opportunities to stick to the high road. Yes, you may do better the next time; but your chance to get it right the first time has passed and will not return. Much better is to get it right, the first time, on time, every time.

It’s certainly true that no one is perfect, you are only human, and things only work out just the way you want them to in the movies. Life can be a real bear sometimes; but fortunately, you do not have to take responsibility for life. You are only on the hook for who you are and what you do. Here is a suggestion worth taking to heart. Start with developing a personal style that sets you apart, that lets everyone know that you are a class act. Think about people you know who stand out from the crowd, people who are certifiable class acts. They have three techniques down pat. First, they are originals. Their style and approach with people and situations are their trademarks. Second, they are not on-again, off-again. They are always uniquely themselves. Third, and here is the key: it is no accident. They usually make it seem easy and natural; but take a closer look and you will soon understand and appreciate how hard they work at it. They consciously and purposely do everything they do, with style, all the time, on purpose, one situation at a time, one person at a time.