Navigating the Unknown
“The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, get lost, and turn back. Maybe it doesn’t matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark.” — Barbara Hall.
Have you ever felt lost, unsure of where life might lead? Many of us have experienced this uncertainty, as though we’re wandering through a maze of our existence. But what if these detours and twists are not just obstacles but stepping stones leading us toward our true purpose? This reminds me of a delightful tale about the endless search for wisdom outside ourselves when it lies hidden within.
The Creator of the universe gathered all of creation and asked, “I want to hide something from the humans until they are ready for it. It is the realization that they create their reality.”
“Tell me where I can hide this wisdom so they will never find it.”
The eagle replied: “Hide it beyond the furthest star. They will not find it there.”
“Not so, said the buffalo. One day, man will learn to fly and find wisdom in the furthest galaxies. Hide it on the sea floor, and they will never find it.”
“Not so, said the wise bear. One day, humans will learn to dive to the bottom of the ocean and find their wisdom there. Hide it deep within man, for he will never think to search for it there.”
So the Creator did precisely that and hid the wisdom of life deep within humanity.
The quest to fulfill one’s goals and dreams is a journey many go in search of. Whilst there is no roadmap marking the route, it requires a leap of faith and trust that your journey is going in the right direction. However, along the path, you may encounter unexpected twists and turns that look like you have lost your way when, in fact, you are precisely where you need to be.
When Challenges Become Opportunities
“Sometimes, perhaps, we are allowed to get lost that we may find the right person to ask directions of.” — Robert Brault.
Like the wisdom hidden within, our life’s path sometimes unfolds in ways we least expect. My journey illustrates this. Having studied to become a fashion designer at university and spending time working in Italy, my life was transformed. In the following years, I went from fashioning fabrics to writing and speaking about self-empowerment because I felt a pull to explore this path. I had little experience as a writer and speaker, yet everything fell into place as I moved forward.
What I experienced at the time is best depicted in the quote by the American novelist Wendell Berry, who said: “It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.” What I thought was my ambition to be a successful designer soon became a distant past. In the following years, I was asked whether I missed working in design. Frankly, my time as a designer had run its course, and I was excited about exploring life as a writer and speaker.
Does that mean we shouldn’t chase our goals and dreams? Certainly not. My goal was to become a designer working in Europe, and I fulfilled my ambition on that account. Author Alan Cohen said: “Every choice before you represents the universe inviting you to remember who you are and what you want.” When you face adversity and hardship, it may be your destiny calling. I don’t know, nor will you until you decide to take the step. One thing is sure: if your world is falling apart, it may be a sign that your previous life is collapsing to give way for a new life to develop.
Finding Fulfillment in the Journey
“Destiny has two ways of crushing us — by refusing our wishes and by fulfilling them.”—Henri Frederic Amiel.
There’s a Japanese Haiku that reads: “I have always known that at last I would take this road, but yesterday I did not know that it would be today.” When faced with these intersections, there is no certainty in life, and hope and faith are the sole guidance to draw on. I hope you will overcome the pain and have faith your new life will fall into place better than expected.
Therefore, go forth in the direction you are called, for that is the greatest act of courage you can undertake. It signifies your willingness to trust in the unfolding of your life’s narrative. You are never presented with circumstances you cannot overcome because the seed of potential lies within you. Whilst it may not appear that way, when you move forward with conviction, the path will reveal itself, but not sooner. If your goals seem out of reach, you may be progressing more than you realize, but not in a linear direction. Remember: detours are not failures but part of the process toward fulfillment.
As we navigate life’s unpredictable journey, we should remember that the path to our destiny is often not a straight line. Just as the Creator of the universe concealed wisdom within humanity, so does our fate weave its twists and turns into our life’s narrative. By embracing these detours and trusting in the unfolding of our lives, we discover essential lessons, and our most significant rewards lie just beyond the horizon of our expectations.
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Tony Fahkry
Expert Life Coach
