“If you’re not sure where you are going, you are liable to end up someplace else.”
“Aim at nothing and you will hit it every time.”
“If you aren’t sure where you’re going, any road will take you there.”
“Fail to determine where you are headed, and you will make the most important decision you will ever regret.”
These four quotes all relate to the same vital element in life: GOALS. Without a goal, a target, an aiming point, it is inevitable that we are going to flounder. Have you ever floundered? I have. There was a time in my life when I had no idea where I was headed. I kept experimenting with different things hoping to gain some direction, but it took what seemed like the longest time to find my way out of the weeds. Fortunately, this occurred during my college years when I was free to explore and experiment a bit. Yet I remember that time as being one of the “darkest nights of my soul” as St. John of the Cross might say.
Through the years what I have learned from working with people as a professional coach as well as my own personal experiences are three things. One, almost everyone loses sight of their goals from time to time. Two, no one – and I mean no one – likes to flounder, no one likes being lost in the weeds. And three, the best way for getting back on track, clarifying your goals, and moving toward them is to get help from a fellow human being.
So, if you find yourself lost in the weeds, floundering, unsure of your goals, or how to move toward them do not feel embarrassed to admit it. It is a malady common as a cold, everyone catches one from time to time. That “dark night of the soul” pain you feel is your body’s reminder to start looking for some direction. And for goodness sake, ask for help from someone – a colleague, trusted friend, or a professional. Because . . . one thing is for certain, “if you’re not sure where you are going, you are liable to end up someplace else.” I know, I’ve been there.