Top 25 growth books - XXI

The Road Less Travelled

M. Scott Peck, M.D.

A few quotes from the book:

“Whenever we seek to avoid the responsibility for our own behavior, we do so by attempting to give that responsibility to some other individual or organization or entity. But this means we then give away our power to that entity.”

“When we love someone our love becomes demonstrable or real only through our exertion - through the fact that for that someone we take an extra step or walk an extra mile. Love is not effortless. To the contrary, love is effortful.” 

“Dependency may appear to be love because it is a force that causes people to fiercely attach themselves to one another. But in actuality it is not love; it is a form of antilove. It has its genesis in a parental failure to love and it perpetuates the failure. It seeks to receive rather than to give. It nourishes infantilism rather than growth. It works to trap and constrict rather than to liberate. Ultimately it destroys rather than builds relationships, and it destroys rather than builds people.” 

Morgan Scott Peck (1936 – 2005) was an American psychiatrist and a best selling author.

The author  says that Life is difficult, tough and life is suffering, says Peck, reminding us of what the Buddha said 2500 years ago. Embracing difficulty—and doing so in a disciplined way—is what actually leads us to the good and meaningful life.  Instead we presume that life is meant to be easy, pleasant. Hence we view the difficulties as something that we are not supposed have encountered. As a result people start taking the path of least resistance in trying to avoid difficulties and challenges. This makes us weak in mind body and spirit as we shun the path of growth, of development. Learning how to deal with difficulties squarely and maturely and up front is one of the principle components of “the road less traveled” or the path not taken by most.

This book is going to make you think. A must read.

Namaste

Prabir