The Will to Improve

Why don't more people have a desire to become better people?  This is a question that has baffled me for some time, and frankly, it still does.  

"There are many who, by virtue of their passivity, dependency, fear and laziness, seek to be shown every inch of the way and have it demonstrated to them that each step will be safe and worth their while.  This cannot be done.  For the journey of spiritual growth requires courage and initiative and independence of thought and action.  While the words of the prophets and the assistance of grace are available, the journey must still be traveled alone.  No teacher can carry you there."  - M. Scott Peck

I think what Peck says is true on several counts.  There are a lot of reasons why people are unwilling to take the next step in their spiritual growth.   And, really, no matter how much someone or many someones tell you about the next step, people are still regularly resistant to taking it.  Yet, no one can take it for you.  

But, while all of this is true, it still does not answer a more fundamental question, "Why?"  Why is it that people are so unwilling to deal with their problems or build up their strengths?  Certainly, the path will be difficult and possibly unpleasant, but in the past when these steps have been taken, have they not always been worth it?  Why, then, does the next step seem so much worse?  

Perhaps, someone really hasn't taken steps in the past and so that person does not have the benefit of hindsight.  Still, though, would not the prospect of being a better human outweigh any difficulty that might arise?  Is not the goal worth taking a chance?  

I know we have all been presented with this issue before and have chosen the lesser path, but why?  Why do we do that?