Give Your Life Direction
T.W. Winslow

  
Life is a grand journey indeed, but without direction it's easy to get lost along the way.  Direction also serves to keep us focused and helps us to maintain a positive outlook.  In my own life, I've found three basic principles helpful in adding direction and increasing positive forward momentum; Establishing Goals, Maneuvering Past Obstacles, and Conquering Problems. 

ESTABLISHING GOALS

Setting goals is one way to give our lives direction and purpose.  Without these it's easy to fall into the trap of running in circles –  never achieving what we want in life.  When setting goals it's important to set both long and short term goals. 

One function of your short term goals is to keep you on track to accomplishing your long term goals.  Think of it this way; your long term goals are something you put up on a high shelf, and your short term goals are the ladder you use to reach that shelf – each rung of the ladder being a different short term goal.  With each step up the ladder you achieve another short term goal and get just that much closer to achieving your long term goals. 

When you apply this "ladder" approach to setting and achieving goals, you do two things: 

First, you give yourself positive reinforcement by achieving a different goal with each step up the ladder.  This gives you a feeling of success and provides a sense of continual forward motion – forever moving closer to your long term goals.

Secondly, your short term goal ladder provides you with a roadmap of sorts – guiding you to your long term goals. 

No matter what goals you set for yourself this simple technique can help keep you focused and positive, better allowing you to achieve success.

MANEUVERING PAST OBSTACLES

Even with the best of planning, one thing is certain – life will always throw us a curve ball.  It's not possible to make contingency plans for all possible obstacle which may block our path down the road.  A more realistic approach is to simply accept the fact that along our life's journey we will encounter obstacles.  By accepting this fact and resolving in our minds that when we encounter these obstacles we will not allow these to impede our forward progress, we better enable ourselves to deal with these situations when they arise. 

Think of it as going on a road-trip.  You select your destination and carefully plan your route.  You pack your bags and have the car serviced in preparation for the trip.  You've done all things necessary to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey.  However, after driving only a short distance you encounter an unexpected detour.  This wasn't part of your original plan and certainly wasn't accounted for in the route you designed.  What do you do?   Do you stop and do nothing?  Do you turn your car around and head for home?   Of course not.  You assess the situation, check your map for the best way around the obstacle, follow whatever detour signs may be posted, and continue on. 

Accepting the fact that we will encounter obstacles along our journey is the first step to being able to maneuver around these when they inevitably arise.

CONQUERING PROBLEMS

Conquering problems and maneuvering past obstacles go hand in hand.  One key in effectively dealing with the problems we face is dispatching them as quickly as we encounter them.  Ignoring problems may work in the short term, but without fail these problems return, and when they do they are often much larger and more difficult to manage. 

Unfortunately, there will be times when we are faced with problems which appear ominous –  problems of such magnitude we feel overwhelmed and helpless to resolve them.  When we encounter these types of problems it is crucial that we don't focus on the problem as a whole.  Typically these ominous problems are not just one problem, but rather a series of small problems all rolled into one.

Break down the problem into parts.  Then focus on resolving one part at a time.  Just as the short term goal ladder gives us confidence and direction, so does conquering each part of a large problem one by one.  As we move forward, solving parts of the larger problem, we get a sense of accomplishment which provides us with the confidence and direction needed to continue on.  Before we know it, that once ominous problem is now completely and effectively resolved, allowing us to get back on track. 

One last thing about conquering problems:  sometimes no matter how hard we try there will be problems which cannot be solved – problems which are out of our control.  When we encounter these types of problems we need to recognize them for what they are and focus our energy on revising our "roadmap" rather than butting our heads against something which is not within our control and cannot be changed.  I once heard it said, "If there IS a solution to the problem, why be unhappy?  If there's NOT a solution to the problem, why be unhappy? 

Give your life direction – set some goals, design your own life's roadmap, have the courage and confidence to move past whatever obstacles and problems block your way.  Remember, life stands still for no one.  If we're not moving forward, we most assuredly are falling behind.  And perhaps most importantly, don't forget to enjoy the journey itself.  Happiness and fulfillment are meant to be found along the way, not some prize to be had at the journey's end. 

  


 
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Yes, life can be mysterious and confusing--but there's much of life that's actually rather dependable and reliable.  Some principles apply to life in so many different contexts that they can truly be called universal--and learning what they are and how to approach them and use them can teach us some of the most important lessons that we've ever learned.
My doctorate is in Teaching and Learning.  I use it a lot when I teach at school, but I also do my best to apply what I've learned to the life I'm living, and to observe how others live their lives.  What makes them happy or unhappy, stressed or peaceful, selfish or generous, compassionate or arrogant?  In this book, I've done my best to pass on to you what I've learned from people in my life, writers whose works I've read, and stories that I've heard.  Perhaps these principles can be a positive part of your life, too!
Universal Principles of Living Life Fully.  Awareness of these principles can explain a lot and take much of the frustration out of the lives we lead.