The Road Less Traveled
    A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth
M. Scott Peck, M.D.

Openness to Challenge

- Continuous and never-ending stringent self-examination
    - Required for a dedication to truth
    - Many psychiatrists examine the world, but not themselves
    - Life of wisdom must be a life of contemplation combined with action
    - Process of constant self-examination and contemplation is essential for ultimate survival
- Willingness to be personally challenged
    - Also required for dedication to truth
    - Must expose our maps to criticism and challenge of other map-makers
- Tendency to avoid challenge is characteristic of human nature
    - Self-discipline: teaching ourselves to do the unnatural
    - Another characteristic of human is to do the unnatural
- Entering psychotherapy   
    - No act is more unnatural
    - An act of the greatest courage
    - Primary reason that people avoid psychotherapy is lack of courage
    - Because people possess courage, new patients are basically much stronger and healthier than average
    - Most people just looking for "relief", rather than a challenge
- Total honesty
    - 3rd thing required for total dedication to the truth
    - Continuous and never-ending process of self-monitoring
    - Honesty does not come painlessly
    - Lying is an attempt to circumvent legitimate suffering (a shortcut)
    - We lie to ourselves as well as others
    - Psychotherapy helps patients confront lies
- Genuine psychotherapy is a legitimate shortcut to personal growth
    - Not a crutch, but a tool
    - Can achieve personal growth without psychotherapy, but it can be tedious, lengthy,
            and difficult

A dedication to truth requires three things: 1) continuous and stringent self-examination; 2) a willingness to be personally challenged; and 3) total honesty.     The search for truth is a lifelong process and requires effort, but genuine psychotherapy can be a legitimate shortcut to growth.