Steering Life In New Directions
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” ―Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
The other day a dear Facebook friend of mine told me I fit Dr. Seuss’ book called The Places You’ll Go. I had not heard of this book, before her comment. I was heartened by her remark. Nothing is so vivifying to the human spirit, as being clearly seen.
What I love most about her remark is the idea of using our time on earth to expand ourselves as psychological and spiritual beings as much is possible. Indeed, she’s right; I have approached life in this way and love nothing more than to show people how to do the same. To me, everything we do in life, even the relationships we have are vehicles for self-actualization. This approach actually enriches our commitments because we keep learning and growing to service them more healthily.
We human beings are remarkably resilient and no matter what happens to us, we have the brains and two feet to steer life in the direction of our choice. With enough curiosity, courage and determination, we can decide which goals and dreams to actualize. This is our right.
But, not all of us have learned how to move from one place to the next in life to protect our welfare and to maximize personal growth. We don’t realize when our current relationships, work or activities have become bad for our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
More and more today people worldwide are totally wiped out by devastating circumstances. They have no choice but to steer their lives in a new direction. Hopefully, most of us will never know this level of devastation. But, certainly, we have crises of love, job and purpose that make us unhappy, restless and acutely aware of the choices we have made, and their value with regard to our future happiness and growth.
It’s at this point where we ask ourselves, “Is this really where I want to be at this point in my life?” “Is this relationship, job or activity any longer good for my body, mind and spirit?”
This is always a critical juncture in life to be. We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water, just because we are bored or restless and in need of novelty. We have to know how to examine life experience for change that is vital to our continued welfare and growth.
The three questions that follow help us to think through where we are at in our life right now. Is what is happening physically, emotionally and spiritually good for us or tearing us down somehow? I have asked myself these same questions many times in my own life.
1. How is your personal energy? We are constantly responding to the things that happen to us that has an impact on our physical and mental energy. Anxiety, fatigue, restlessness, boredom, and reckless desires to destructively act out (e.g., infidelity, alcohol or drug use, gambling) can be signs that we feel pulled down by some circumstance in our lives and that it may be time to make a personal change. When our energy gets stuck or something we are doing or involved in is now unhelpful to us, our bodies show this in fatigue, instability, and physical symptoms.
We have to become aware of our personal energy. Personal energy never lies; it tells us when we are stressed, unhappy or beaten down, and also when we feel happy and motivated by our lives. Experiences that positively energize us are generally simpatico with our true natures and are good for our welfare.
2. Are you learning and growing enough in a relationship, job, or activity that you have right now? If your answer is no, it may be time to find something that energizes you and keeps you learning and growing. Or, it may be time to let go of this experience, altogether. Only YOU yourself can decide this.
In my own life, I did not always heed the call to let go of a relationship when it wore me down and did little to support my true needs and desires. This isn’t easy to do, as we tend to believe that we should keep friends forever, even when they hurt or work against us. Guilt can get us to tune out on energies (depression, anxiety, fatigue, boredom, destructive acting out) that tell us a relationship, job or activity is no longer right for us.
To keep steering ourselves in directions that are healthy for us, we have to embrace the idea that some people and experiences that come our way are not meant to be with us forever. We have to love and cherish everything we learn from them, good and bad. They are all messengers on our life journey.
3. Do your life choices reflect your true needs, desires and purpose? None of us is living a life made up of everything that fits with our true natures. Some of us work at jobs that have little relation to our creative needs or have friends or lovers who share few of our interests. What is important to our health and happiness is that some of our lives authentically reflect us. If we find little of our true selves in the things we do, we want to open up new activities, relationship or work that is a better fit with us.
Never forget that each of us has the right to take our personal journey as far as we wish for it to go. We decide when it’s time to unpack our bags and stay put for awhile and when it’s time to pack up again and journey to new places to keep learning and growing.
If you liked my post today, please let me know by selecting the Like icon that immediately follows. You can also Tweet or Google+1 today’s article to let your friends know about it. I wish for you life choices that keep you learning, growing and fulfilled. Warm regards, Deborah
Debbie, this article is so excellent, and so timely for me. I have loved “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” for many years, and you addressed it so beautifully here. I was telling my mom the other day that learning about Existentialism from you was one of two of the most valuable things I’ve learned in life. It is such a powerful tool for getting one out of the “victim” mentality and inspiring one towards more, knowing that we are each architects of our own lives. Being incredibly Freudian by nature, this revelation was a powerful one, and you brought it so vividly alive for me….I am not always the “architect” I would like to be, but I am learning, and I am so grateful for the many life lessons that serve to increase my ability to build….your article, here, is yet another reminder that we have choice, and there are so many possibilities available to us….thank you for sharing your wisdom with such compassion, and always seeing the best in people. You are beyond amazing, in so many ways….
Hi Gina, I”m sorry for the delay in responding to you. I read your comment several days ago and was touched by your kind words. Of course, you know how special you are to me. Meeting people like you Gina is the reason why we teach.
You know I feel the same about Existentialism. I remember many years ago (LOL) coming upon this life changing philosophy and felt– goodness, there are ideas that resonate with what I’ve always felt to be true. I know this is how you feel too.
I have always seen the architect in YOU. You resonate Gina even when things may not move ahead in the direction of your choice quickly enough.
Much love to you and thank you for your compassion and kindness and for being present to me. Debbie.
20 years ago, I used to read this book at night to the kids on the adolescent addiction treatment unit where I worked at the time. It was and always has been very moving and inspiring. It is so important to realize what we have to work from, our base state of manifested Love, from this blessed source we may bring another beautiful expression of Love to life. It is great wisdom and guidance to know that people and things will come and go – everything changes, but in the face of it all we can keep being who and what we are. Every day still is an opportunity to give life to the divine potential and reality within us, in our own unique and precious way. It is, as you so eloquently stated, important to pay attention to ourselves, to know what we feel and what we need, to honor our own truth, to keep being able to bring the best of ourselves into each moment and into our life. Oh the places we will go! Thank you for this!
Hello Michael, I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I’m sure the children benefited much from your wise reading. I love what you call our base state of manifest love. I agree Michael. When we get the ego out of the way–we see we are love.
I know what you are saying — what great peace comes from the wisdom you describe here. Everything changes but when we access our true self — we are strong our authentic nature. Thank you so much for your words here. Warmly Deborah.
your article is so goood helpful to gather scattered ideas amazing regards hira imtiaz
Thank you Hira. I enjoyed writing this article. I’m so glad you found the information helpful and enjoyable. Warm regards Deborah.
I was really lovely to read your article. very encouraging and challenging. May God bless you. shahnaz
Thank you for your kind words Shahnaz. Blessings to you as well. Deborah.