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 by email, text, instant message, 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 rather than an attitude of “it will do for now.” How do you feel about this as an idea? Are you willing to give yourself 100% to a task, rather than half-heartedly?
The idea was first discussed by the American entrepreneur Derek Sivers, who outlined his preference for pursuing passions rather than obligations. What if you adopted a similar approach? You may avoid doing so because saying ‘no’ to good-enough projects, goals, or relationships is enough to keep you motivated for the time being. It’s an idea I refer to as “Parked” in my book The Power To Navigate Life.
I contend that we Navigate Life, pursuing that which resonates with our deepest self, or, conversely, we’re stagnant, not making progress, and hence in a parked state. The idea came to me from a book on relationships, which suggested that men stay parked in intimate relationships more than women do. They are content to remain in the relationship rather than miss out on the intimacy and company. When we settle, we compromise our self-worth by accepting conditions that are less than meaningful. The goal is to move from a parked state 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 low-priority requests, 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, we should 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 that 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 that many people squander. That is why we ought to guard it with our lives and choose opportunities that inspire us, rather than just being task-oriented.
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 adopt a positive attitude toward 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 about what you give your attention to. You should say ‘yes’ to tasks that excite you, that you are passionate about, and that 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 wholeheartedly to the task or the relationship, or we walk away.
Similarly, it pays to know which areas of our lives we apply this positive attitude to. It may be challenging to commit to every facet of life due to competing interests. For example, your partner may want to visit their favorite 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, helping you develop a laser-like focus while managing your time. You focus on high-value areas that lead to happiness and fulfilment, increasing your chances of success.
Given the many events that compete for our attention, it’s essential 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.
The First Step Toward a Breakthrough
If you’re ready to move past what’s been holding you back and create real momentum, a 30-minute Breakthrough Coaching Session is the perfect place to begin. In just one focused conversation, we’ll uncover what’s keeping you stuck, shift your perspective, and help you design a clear next step toward meaningful progress.
Tony Fahkry
Expert Life Coach
