I don’t remember exactly what we were talking about, but it was funny to hear the expression backwards. My sister-in-law Otília and I were sitting on the lanai of her house in Florida, having afternoon coffee, when she said: “Where there is a way, there is a will.”
“Wait a second,” I told her. “I believe you meant to say: ‘Where there is a will, there is a way.’” In other words, where there is determination, opportunity is created. What sounded funny for a few minutes brought me inspiration for something very serious.
Hearing the inverted phrase reminded me of how many people also invert these factors in real life. It’s what I call “willpower by convenience”, which only arises when the path is already paved, marked, and obstacle-free. It is sad to see the lack of motivation or action toward better days because of this passive waiting.
This reminds me of the explorers who colonized uninhabited lands, like the Portuguese in Brazil, the Spanish in Florida, or the English here in Massachusetts. They didn’t have open paths. They faced dangerous obstacles without knowing what lay ahead. But because they had a goal and a dream, fueled by courage, they moved forward. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have the paths that today allow us to travel and connect with the world.
Many people wait for motivation to start a diet, a study, or a new plan. If we break down the word MOTIVATION, we have MOTIVE + ACTION. The desire to move starts when you have the motive in mind and simply act. Action, in fact, often comes before the impulse.
Stephen R. Covey, when discussing the first habit of highly effective people, says that proactivity means that, as human beings, we are responsible for our own lives. Our behavior is a product of our decisions, not our conditions. He leads us to analyze the word responsibility — “respons-ability” — the ability to choose your own response.
People with emotional intelligence don’t blame the weather or circumstances. They don’t wait for things to happen; they create opportunities and blaze trails.
When Otília inverted the expression, it might have been a mistake, but my mind caught a powerful message about the Paralysis of Ease. How many times have you waited for the perfect tool, money, or time (the “way”) to finally have the will to act? How many times have you looked at closed doors and felt incapable?
Simplifying life is not just about having a clear path; it’s about having the mental clarity to want to walk it. We often complicate things by waiting for the “perfect path” to appear, when in fact, we should cultivate the will first.
Inverting my sister-in-law’s phrase taught me a vital lesson: those who want it, make a way; those who don’t, make an excuse about the road. The will is the engine; the way is just the ground. Don’t complicate things by waiting for the ideal moment. The ideal moment is when you decide to act. Create your path, simplify your journey, and transform yourself today.
