What is Your Path in Life?

As a quote by Joseph Campbell goes, “If you can see your path laid out ahead of you step by step, then you know it is not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That's why it's your path.” I had to grow into that quote. When I was younger, I was subject to believing that I needed to make the proverbial five year plan. I was to write down my goals and strategies that I would aim to achieve in order to “arrive” at some larger outcome. It always felt uncomfortable to me. I resisted this gold standard to achieving success, but tried my hand at it over and over. While this can be a productive method, as I grew to understand myself a bit better, I realized that it is not the only approach.

What Campbell proposes is to shift from a focus that is based in the future to one that is in the here and now. It asks you to operate from a balance between formal thinking and intuitive wisdom. But we live in a very mind-oriented society that lends itself to a mentality of over thinking, (paralysis of analysis), and setting up structures by which to direct our actions, (climbing the ladder of success). How can you possibly plan for your future one step at a time?

This approach means getting comfortable with uncertainty, patience, and listening beyond your mind’s chattering voices to your deeper, intuitive wisdom. What does that all mean?

Uncertainty - Even if you make plans for a future event, (for instance I decided that I was going to leave my job because I had burned out), there is no way you can predict how those plans will go or what circumstances will surround them. In my case, I planned to resign on April 1, 2020. And if you have been living the past year’s circumstances, you know that I had no idea that it would land at the beginning of a huge pandemic. It already felt scary to let go, but then there was the added uncertainty of a viral transmission spiraling out of control. Uncertainty became everyone’s way of life, so I was in large company.

Patience - With uncertainty comes the hardest practice, being patient. Patience to trust that as you make choices based in the moment, you are navigating your path. That you are creating your best future one step at a time. This doesn’t mean you just let things happen. The choices you make put things in motion, but you are playing with what is rather than the hopeful prediction of what will be. I had hoped to create gatherings of people for my life coaching business and volunteer with hospice patients, but of course physical gatherings went virtual and hospice facilities prohibited in person visits. Practicing patience became a must. It is almost guaranteed that circumstances will go out of your control, so it’s best to bring your focus closer to what can be done to aim for your future plans.

Mind And Deeper Wisdom - If you rely on listening to the chattering chorus of voices in your head, you probably have come to realize that the mind’s strongest intuitions are often totally wrong. It will lead to miswanting what you thought you really wanted. Pairing your thoughts with sensing the intuitive wisdom in your body will enhance a balanced decision making process. And that deeper wisdom may cause you to feel uncomfortable. When I finally made the choice to leave my job, the timing was much sooner than I had expected. My mind wanted me to remain with the discomfort that was known, while my gut said the discomfort of uncertainty was the best step for my future self. That struggle may lead to second guessing because it asks you to take a path that is not laid out ahead of you step by step. I redirected those voices in my head to help me make informed choices in the moment, rather than projecting their fears to hold me back and protect me.

Now a year after leaving my job, I know I made a difficult decision, but absolutely the best one for my path in life. Could I see the exact steps? Could I have anticipated that an earth shaking event would coincide with my choice? Are things playing out as my mind thought? No to all of these, but what it has given me is a deeper relationship with uncertainty, patience, and my deeper, intuitive wisdom. These are serving me better than ever as I continue to forge my path one step at a time. And I leave you with another Campbell quote: “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

If you are struggling, I am a Certified Life Coach who can help you connect with your inner wisdom and creativity for creating your path in life one step at a time.

Click here to find out more: Creative Choices Coaching