Life Is A Journey With or Without GPS

May 15th,2012

Ughh! My GPS wasn’t working.

I had to drive into Boston for a meeting. I tried to plug the address into my GPS. Nothing. I tried again. Nothing.

Missing the meeting because of a malfunctioning GPS wasn’t an option. I looked at a MapQuest,figured out a route and headed on my way.

Afraid of Getting Lost

I was nervous. How could I ever find my way through the narrow streets of Boston without my trusted guide telling me to turn right,turn left or make a legal U turn? The knots in my stomach tightened as nervousness turned into fear when I thought about being late for the meeting.

To keep my nerves under control,I focused on what was right in front of me. Traffic was heavy and needed my full attention. I couldn’t worry about the Boston part until I was there.

“Life is a journey,not a destination.”

Today its easy to have your journey dictated to you by others. Whether it’s driving directions from a GPS,how to videos on YouTube or how to market our business from an online course,you’ve may have stopped creatively problem solving in many areas of your life.

But,Life,as Emerson says,is all about the journey. It’s not about the destination. Once you arrive,the next piece of Life’s journey unfolds,as one of my clients shared about opening their business.

First all they wanted to do was to leave the corporate world and start their own business. Once the business was up and running the destination became establishing regular clients. After that it became adding their first employee. Today it’s about growing their business nationally.

Each checkpoint was at one time a destination. Once there,the vista opened and a new destination presented itself.

What if you turned off your GPS for a while?

What if you turned to your own inner instincts to guide your actions? Does that make you nervous? Do you trust your instincts?

The key is the same as when I was driving into Boston. Stay focused on what is directly in front of you. Pay attention to the details and signs on the side of the road. If you get lost or are unsure if you’re moving in the right direction,ask for help/directions. then get back on the road.

When you know your destination,the journey is about moving forward one step at a time. Even with a bad sense of direction,you can still find your way,learn new things and meet helpful people along the way.

I made it to Boston.

Even without a GPS,I easily made it into Boston. I followed the directions I had,my instincts,and asked for help when I needed it.

Try turning off your GPS for a while and see what you discover.