I took a little hiatus for the last few weeks. It was intentional; however, it lasted longer than I planned for. Why? I’m not sure. I think the simple answer is that life got in the way, and I lost track of time. It’s hard to believe that we are already into October and, therefore, into the last quarter of 2021. How are your 2021 goals and objectives looking?
If that question evoked a sense of panic or caused some “rumblies in your tumbly,” a Winnie the Pooh would say, I’m here to give you some relief – and some hope. We all lose our way from time to time. The question is not whether or when you will get lost. The question is, how long are you going to stay lost? This may seem like a simple question, but we all are often willing and able to make it more complicated than it needs to be.
Frankly, it is hard to remember growing up and learning to drive without a Garmin device or, more recently, having Waze on my phone to direct me to turn by turn directions whether I am going across town or across the country. I am old enough to remember stopping at gas stations to buy maps when traveling out of town or carrying the enormous Mapsco book in the car to help direct me to an unknown street in my city.
As I have successfully proven many times, it is possible to use Waze and still sometimes become lost. More importantly, it’s also not difficult to have good intentions, good plans, and even good goals and to get off track. Especially in the last couple of years, we have to learn how to address unforeseen circumstances and keep things on an even keel when everything seems to be going off the rails.
Getting lost, then, seems inevitable and more or less out of our control. Staying lost, however, is a choice and one that we can make at any time to change our course. Like every personal decision we make, this can be done on our own, but I suggest to you that trying to change directions on your own is much more complex and takes a great deal more time than if you have someone to help you see your blind spots and to point out where you need to make corrections.
Accountability, as I have learned over many years, is one of the most powerful tools that any of us can use to get unstuck and grow more quickly and more fully, no matter where we are in life. Sure, you can be very self-aware and know your shortcomings better than anyone, but I would still encourage anyone and everyone to find a way to find a person that can and will give honest and unfiltered feedback.
Just like a good GPS, you don’t need someone to make suggestions. You need someone to tell you exactly where, when, and how you need to turn so that you can get to your destination as quickly as possible. Sure, you might find your way there eventually, but what and how much is it going to cost you simply in terms of time and money that you could save by getting there sooner.
So the only remaining question in your mind at this point may be, how do I find someone? The answer may depend on what you are trying to find your way out of, but chances are you have several if not many people that you could ask. The only question is, are you willing to be a little vulnerable and a little uncomfortable in approaching someone. I think this is a vast chasm that many of us get to and never get across.
We know where we are, we know where we wish we were, and yet it just seems too difficult to do what is necessary to cross over to the other side. Either that, or we decide to wait for some unseen or unknown future event that we hope will happen but often never does. When you’re walking into a space that is unknown or making a turn to go somewhere you’ve never been, that first turn is a little, not it’s a lot, scary. And that’s why most people settle for good instead of great.
My challenge for you this week is where are you standing at the edge of a decision that needs to be made? Maybe it’s a personal decision or perhaps a financial or educational decision. Or perhaps it’s a relationship or job you need to pursue or end. Whatever the circumstance is, you’ve been lost or driving in circles for long enough. It’s time to reach out to someone to ask them to come alongside you and ask for their help.
It’s not an easy decision, but you will wonder why you waited so long once you have made it. Do it today so that tomorrow you will be glad you did.
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I also invite you to review my coaching page on my website here. I have only a couple of spots left in my Personal Development Coaching Practice. Each week I offer two free strategy sessions on a first-come, first-served basis to people interested in exploring how to become a person who pursues their goals and dreams. These special hour-long sessions prove again and again to be invaluable to those who participate. You can book these directly on my coaching page – I look forward to serving you.
Did you enjoy this article? If you haven’t already, please be sure to subscribe to this blog, where I post every Tuesday. You can also get additional free content by subscribing to my YouTube channel or following me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.