Favor Direction Over Destination
Plans and goals are not inherently bad. But they tend to go awry. And when they do, direction will show the way.
“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.” — Carl Rogers
Those five year plans tend to blow up in five days.
Life is about direction, not destination. In fact, a final destination does not exist. There is an endless series of stops along a winding path, both of which are impossible to predict.
Don’t get caught up in the false idol of goals. They are useful achievements to shoot for. But don’t allow them to steer you off course. And never allow them to become the primary focus.
How do you divine a direction?
The short answer is to follow what feels right. And by that I mean sniff out where happiness lies. Seek out new and interesting challenges. Pay close attention to what brings you joy. That is the way.
Finding your direction is not an arbitrary multi year plan. It is a series of experiments, tentative at first but soon growing in frequency and intensity. It is like the childhood game of Hot and Cold.
Remember your direction will change.
Just as the needle on your internal compass settles, there is bound to be a magnetic disturbance. Living life changes you in fundamental ways. You are constantly evolving and becoming something new.
And it isn’t just you who changes. People come and go. They too travel a path, but it is quite different from yours. These bright souls leave a piece of themselves with you, and you leave a piece of yourself with them.
Life is an adventure without end.
Treat it as such. Go ahead and make plans. Set goals. But always keep a weather eye to the horizon. And never fail to check your compass. It will always point you in the right direction, even if that direction changes.
🤔 Food for Thought:
How many times have you found yourself lost or blown off course?
How often has Life turned your plans upside down?
Would favoring direction in these times help?
⚙️ One Small Step:
The next time you make a plan with a destination, make sure you also have a direction. This direction should point toward what is meaningful to you. When the plan goes awry, look to your direction to show the way.