How to Know If You’re on the Right Path

Photo by Sage Friedman, Unplash.

There comes a point in life when we realise that not every opportunity, achievement, or path is truly meant for us. Some things may look impressive on the outside, earning applause and validation, yet quietly draining our spirit. Others may seem ordinary or even overlooked by society, but they bring us joy, ease, and a sense of lightness that no recognition can replace. The real measure of whether something is “right” isn’t in titles, status, or approval. It’s in the way it nourishes or depletes our energy.

Remember this: What is right for you will nourish your energy. What is wrong for you will drain it.

Do you know the simplest way to recognise whether something (for example: starting a relationship, beginning a new job) or a path is right for you? It’s very simple: if it’s right, you will feel more energised. If it’s wrong, it will deplete your energy—no matter how much others praise it or say it’s the “right choice.”

There are things that sound impressive, and everyone considers them to be success. If you do them, you’ll be recognised. But once you actually start, every morning you wake up feeling heavy. You push yourself harder, but the harder you try, the more exhausted you become. Your mind is tight like a stretched string, your heart weighed down like it’s carrying stones. That is not “worthwhile effort,” but a very clear sign: you are on the wrong path.

On the other hand, there are things no one values, with no flashy label attached. Yet when you do them, you feel joy, lightness, and a brightness inside you. It’s like drinking a sip of coconut water right when you’re parched. At that moment, maybe you haven’t achieved any big success yet, but at least you know: you are walking a path that sustains you—that nourishes your energy.

The truth is, not all exhaustion is worth it. There are two kinds of tiredness:

1. The fatigue from pushing beyond your limits. This kind of tiredness helps you grow.

2. The fatigue from carrying burdens that don’t belong to you. This kind only wears you down.

   
   

You must be carefully distinguish the two. A mountain climber also gets tired, but their eyes still shine with excitement. Someone forced to carry a meaningless rock, on the other hand, only wants to drop it immediately.

So don’t just ask, “Is this prestigious?” or “What do others think?” The only question you need is: Does this fill you up or empty you out? If, after doing it, you feel more alive, more inspired, then it’s right. Or, after doing it, you feel drained and hollow, then no matter how much others applaud it, it’s not meant for you.

What is right for you will nourish you. What is wrong for you will wear you down. This life is too short for constant exhaustion. May you always do what you love, and love what you do.