Lama Ole’s answer:
For this there are outer and inner signs. If one is on the wrong path, one might attract difficult people again and again, who are then hard to get rid of. One has a sort of outer energy-hook that pulls those people towards oneself. It is possible to do this out of compassion, too, but then that should happen consciously. The inner sign of being on the wrong path is that disturbing feelings—like envy, jealousy, pride, confusion, and so on—become stronger.
You will sense that you are on the right path through noticing that you attract pleasant things on the outer level. And on the inner level, disturbing feelings will vanish and more space and freedom will emerge.
But mind is king; we ourselves have the freedom to decide what happens. If we are on a difficult path, we can decide, “I am a Bodhisattva. I’m helping all beings in pain and purifying their suffering.” With this attitude, we get through everything safely. We leave the heavy luggage behind and then quickly get ahead.