“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” Jimmy Dean
It is quite difficult, nearly impossible, to predetermine an exact destination in your life. But, you can most certainly “feel” a direction, a course that leads to places unknown, places well suited for you.
Even in my later years, I am feeling a renewed sense of calling. I do not know precisely what it is I will do, but I do know the direction I am headed. Metaphorically speaking, “I am headed west.” Let me explain.
Headed West
In the early 1990’s I was on flight from somewhere heading home. Seated next to me, was an executive from Charles Schwab. Now, please understand these were the days before any major stock trading organization participated in online trading. My airplane companion revealed to me that he was flying home from a corporate strategy planning session with the goal of creating on online trading platform.
When I asked him about the session, he expressed words that have hung with me for decades: “Well, Charlie,” he said with a bit of a twinkle in his eye, “We concluded that while we don’t know our final destination, we do know our direction. We are headed west. It is as if we are beginning the journey in New York and we aren’t sure if our destination is St. Louis or LA or Seattle, but we do know this: We are headed west. And for now that is good enough!”
Moving Targets
I have found these words to be true for life as well. You never know your final destination. Such awareness is totally dependent on a “series of decisions” over time based on mysterious influences. For that reason I strongly resonate with a precedence of direction over destination.
In this “direction planning” process, I find it helpful to consider the “kind” of life you desire. Is it one based on the “small self” of prestige, power and possessions, or is it one deeply committed to your truest inner self?
Small Self or True Self?
A destination-focused life ties you to a cage, encumbered by stuff and quite dependent on other’s opinions. And in doing so, your truest self gets locked up in that cage as well. Fulfillment of your core being is sacrificed.
Whereas a direction-focused life asks only one thing: What is true? What corresponds with your soul? A direction-focused life offers freedom to follow a furtive course of discovering your truest self.
So, the choice is entirely yours. First, believe that you have a choice. Then make that choice.
What will it be?
Whatever is True
Focus Your Attention on That
Photo courtesy of mihtiander at istockphoto
