“Sometimes the way forward requires us to go backward in order to re-discover our bearings.”
Remember the last time you got lost? If you stopped to ask directions, you would likely find someone who knew how to direct you where to go from your location at that time.
What if you had to call someone to ask for help – what would they say? They would likely ask you where you are right now. To find your way in that scenario, you would need to know where you are first. Without knowing where you are, it is very difficult to reset and get back on your desired path.
Experienced map navigators will tell you that when you get lost, you need to go back to the “last known spot.” In others words, when you get lost, go back to the most recent spot where you knew exactly where you were. Think about it – when you are lost, getting back on the path you desire requires you to go back before can you start moving forward again.
I am pretty confident this does not mean we need to go ‘back to the future’ in an attempt to reverse, change, correct, or alter experiences. Rather, to find our way, we need to remember and reconnect with where we started on the journey in the first place. We need to go back to that spot where we had the clarity, the purpose, and the commitment to our vision and mission.
When our journey becomes a struggle, when we are not sure how we got here, or confused as to why we are here, remember where you first started out – your “last known spot” – and reconnect from there to find your way. It is in that most recent definable moment in time when we made a decision, made the commitment, and began the effort to start our journey that we find our ability to refocus our efforts and get back on our desired path.
With all that comes at us, it is easy to get lost. The challenges, the obstacles, the doubts, and the fears can often alter or disrupt our mission. When faced with mounting pressures and limited accomplishments, we can sometimes slip into survival mode just to get through it all. And, in the security of survival, we find ourselves comfortable, yet unfulfilled and lost. While there is comfort in a safe haven, it can also become a distraction that can easily, and often does, knock you off your course.
What I would encourage all of us to do is to remember the passion and commitment of our personal mission. Every one of us started out on a journey embracing the promise and opportunity of something that we were truly passionate about accomplishing or sharing. When things got difficult or frustrating, we allowed something to interrupt our journey; and, in some cases, we have gotten completely lost. Now, it is time to get back on your path.
It is not the promise and opportunity of your journey that is lost – you are. Rediscover your way, embrace your passion, and pursue what inspired you in the first place. Remember, someone is looking for what you have to offer. Until you disconnect from being lost, they cannot find you. The time to reconnect with your passion and your purpose is now. Go back to your last known spot, rediscover your bearings, and get moving. It is what you were meant to do.
