When you walk off the sidewalk or paved ground, you contribute to a desire path. The more people that do this, the clearer the path that emerges. Here’s an image of a desire path:

Apply this metaphor to your mind. Imagine that your mind was a town that you have designed with a lot of influence from your parents, teachers, and friends. 

Most of the paved roads work, but there are unpaved parts of your mind that you feel inclined to walk through. Where are they? What’s the reason you want to walk through?

For example, when I asked myself this, I realized that writing an article every week and publishing it on social media was a paved part of my mind. I know more people will read it, and it helps me work toward my goals as an author. I also know that it’s not fun or natural for me, and it takes effort.

However, writing every day at this blog was and remains a desire path. It’s very natural for me. As long as I keep walking this desire path, I face very little risk of breaking the writing practice or losing focus. It has done a lot for me. 

You may be glad you tried the desire path. When you have an alternative, you may also come to appreciate the design of the paved path more.