Setting the Coordinates of your Life Compass

Finding your inner compass is the first step in the challenge of navigating the waters toward your goals. Once you know what your goals are, how are you supposed to set the coordinates?

When I talk to fellow travelers, the “how” tends to be what stops them in their tracks. How am I going to find my way? How am I going to reach my goal? When the goal seems to be far beyond the horizon, it’s no wonder we feel lost!

Discovering the path and staying on course don’t have to scare you away from beginning at all. In fact, developing your plan can be the first thing that gives you the confidence you need to know that you will succeed.

1. Work backward from the goal to where you are now.

Look at everything you will need along the way to find your way there. If your goal is a new career, then you may need a master’s degree in that field. To obtain that master’s degree, you need to select a program that fits your needs (your daily schedule and the length of time you want to take to reach your goal). If you have a family, then you may need extra help keeping the household running smoothly and dropping the kids off at their events. Working backward again, do you have the requirements to get into the grad program you are considering? Should you consider several schools? Do you need to obtain letters of recommendation, internships, or perhaps a bachelor’s degree first?

These small steps tracing the path from end to start will help you chart your way.

2. Lay out a timeline for your plan to succeed.

“A goal without a plan is just a wish,” right? I love this quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. So what better way to boost your confidence and plot your course than by planning each step to your dreams?

Now that you know all the steps to your goal, lay them out in order and make a timeline for yourself. This visual will not only help you stay on track, but it can also help you see the progress you’ve made toward the goal.

Does it look like the goal will take a long time to achieve, even with your plan in place? Just remember that the time will pass anyway, so using it to reach your goal is even better than simply existing in your current state.

These two simple steps can help you set the coordinates on your life compass for success and put the wind in your sails. You know you can achieve!

Book a free Uplift Your Life and Career Discovery session here to help you set the coordinates of your Life Compass!