A wonderful way to start the week…

I’ve blogged about life’s journey before, it’s a great subject. So when my Phillip Humbert Newsletter arrived in perfect time to remind me about my goals, and how fortunate I am to be woken up every morning by the calls, (okay – any Australian would know they are raucous and jaring calls;-) of this Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, I decided to share not only the photograph but also Phillips timely words. I hope the words will be an equally nice reminder for you too.

Where Are You Going?

Written & Published by Philip E. Humbert, PhD
Visit Phillip at: http://www.philiphumbert.com

I recently re-read Conrad Black’s extraordinary biography of President Franklin Roosevelt. The thing is massive (over 1300 pages!) but so well written it goes fast and gives a rich picture of this incredible man. There are many things to learn from Roosevelt, but what stands out for me is that he knew what he wanted and where he was going in life.

So many of us never figure that out. Even when he didn’t have a clue how to solve the challenges of the Great Depression, he never doubted his long-term direction. When polio robbed him of his health and threatened his life, he remained true to his life-vision. Can you say as much?

What is the “big idea” in your life? What’s the ultimate destination for you? Whether you call it your purpose or mission, or refer to it as your goal or use some other label, I’m convinced that knowing what we truly want in life is essential. Without a vision, a “north star” or major dream, we waste too much time. We feel “lost” or confused. We try many things but our enthusiasm wanes and we end up “starting over.”That was not a problem for FDR. Obviously he had flaws and it wouldn’t surprise me if as many TIPS readers dislike him as admire him. We can disagree over his politics, his values, his behaviour and so forth.

But we can still learn from his sense of purpose and personal destiny.His life took many detours, most notably because of his polio. He was reluctant to run for Governor of New York in 1928. His personal finances and his family life were a mess, but through it all he kept his eyes on the prize. He aimed to become President because he saw it as his destiny. He worked for it and he never flinched.

What is the theme and focus of your life? What is your destiny? Many of us say we “don’t know” but I think, deep inside, most of us do know. What we lack is not the “knowing” but the commitment and a strategy for getting there. Without a sense of “how to do it” we are easily discouraged. We get lost in the hassle of daily life.

Don’t let that happen to you! You have a purpose. Dig deep to discover (or recover) your dream and find ways to move in the direction of your most important priorities. The path is unlikely to be straight or easy, but it’s critical that you keep going.
In life, we get pretty much what we think about all day long. In the long run, we get what we expect; we end up where we are headed. In our daily lives, it’s critical that we are clear about our direction and that we keep going. “Inch by inch, any thing’s a cinch.”

Surround yourself with people and books and activities that move you toward your ultimate goals. You probably won’t get there in a day, or even in a year, but it’s essential that you keep going. So, here’s a key question, “Where are you going in life?” Whatever your ultimate destination, whatever your dream, think about it all day long, every day, until one day you wake up to discover you’ve arrived.