How To Navigate Life
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” — Howard Thurman
Given the many distractions that compete for our attention these days, it’s not surprising people don’t devote more time to what truly inspires them. Many have a habit of tuning out anything that is not urgent. For example, there was a time when a person was contactable via a telephone landline, with no answering machine. Nowadays, I can reach you through email, text messaging, instant messaging, social media, and dare I say, call you on your mobile device. Yet, this has not improved our lives other than making us more available. However, being more available equates to having less time to focus on our priorities. As a result, we say ‘yes’ to things that don’t inspire us, but offer minimal satisfaction. What I’m proposing, is that we adopt a positive attitude towards our tasks instead of an attitude of: it will do for now. How do you feel about this as an idea? Are you willing to give yourself one hundred percent to a task instead of half-heartedly?
The idea was first discussed by the American entrepreneur Derek Sivers, in which he outlined how he preferred engaging in pursuits he is passionate about, instead obligated to do. What if you adopted a similar approach? You may avoid doing so because saying ‘no’ to good enough projects, goals or relationships suffices to keep you motivated for the time being. It’s an idea I refer to as being Parked in my book The Power To Navigate Life. My contention is that we Navigate Life, pursuing that which resonates with our deepest self or, conversely, we’re stagnant, not making progress, hence a Parked state. The idea came to me from a book on relationships, where the author suggested men stay Parked in intimate relationships, more so than women. They are content to stay in the relationship instead of missing out on the intimacy and company. When we settle, we compromise our self-worth because we accept less than meaningful conditions. The basis is to move from being Parked to a positive mindset in everything we do.
Manage Your Time
“A person can succeed at almost anything for which they have unlimited enthusiasm.” — Charles M. Schwab
When we say ‘no’ to requests that are low priorities, we free up time to say ‘yes’ to areas that serve our highest good. By embracing a positive attitude, we focus our attention on what really matters. Therefore, it’s vital we explore our full potential because in those moments we experience deep flow states and awaken our greatest ability. We may undertake meaningless tasks or commit to relationships that don’t inspire us because we’re fearful more opportunities won’t show up later. So, we take what is available now, hoping it will occupy our time until something better comes along. Time is a precious commodity which many people squander. That is why we ought to guard it with our life and choose opportunities that inspire us, rather than just being task-orientated.
You cannot get everything done because it’s impossible. You are likely to wash over the tasks without fully committing to them. The question arises: How will you know whether to undertake a project or say ‘no’? It’s as simple as this: If you don’t feel a spark of enthusiasm, it’s unlikely you’ll see it through to completion. In my experience, if something is difficult at the start and I’m lacking motivation, it will fail because I’m not bringing my entire self to it. If you cannot bring a positive attitude to the task, it’s best to say ‘no’. I assure you, adopting this frame of mind will yield success and you needn’t buy into the fear that more opportunities won’t become available later. In fact, more quality prospects will emerge since you are careful what you give your attention to. You should say ‘yes’ to tasks that excite you, that you are passionate about and which you’re likely to bring your best work. There is little room for negotiation and no grey area when we pursue a positive attitude. We commit to the task or the relationship wholeheartedly or not at all, in which case we walk away.
Similarly, it pays to know which areas of our life we apply this positive attitude to. It may pose a challenge to commit to every facet of life because of competing interests. For example, your partner may want to visit their favourite restaurant and you don’t feel the same way. In this scenario, diplomacy prevails in maintaining a healthy relationship. Embracing a positive outlook will change your approach to life, where developing a laser-like focus while managing your time. You concentrate on high-value areas that lead to happiness and fulfilment; with a better chance of success. Given the many events that compete for our attention, it’s important to be discerning with our time. We become inspired by our goals and projects, instead of expecting a situation to improve as we go along; it seldom does. Therefore, Embracing a positive outlook will change your approach to life, otherwise you will be pulled along by secondary tasks that are less desirable. Life is too short and valuable to be pursuing goals that contradict your greater self.
Are You Ready to Transform Your Life with Confidence?
Are you ready to transform your life and unlock your potential? Start your journey with me today! My Life Coaching Program has empowered many to achieve lasting change. Schedule your FREE 30-minute consultation now and take the first step towards a brighter, more confident you.
Tony Fahkry
Expert Life Coach
