Where are you headed in life? When navigating a boat in open waters, a captain must continually consider his direction. Getting slightly off course can send his ship into a dangerous situation or to an unintended destination. When navigating the waters of life, we want to stay on course toward our desired destination as well. How do we find our direction and continue on a positive trajectory in life?

Consider your Purpose – If we plan to go nowhere, we will get there every time. But if we have hopes and dreams and a purpose in life, we can set our path in that direction. Certainly goals change and life takes twists and turns, but when we keep our ultimate purpose in mind we can correct the course and continue moving toward the target. Let’s take some time to be still and ponder some of life’s bigger questions as we think about where we are headed. We can ask ourselves:

• What is most important to me in life?
• What am I put on this earth to do?
• What legacy do I want to leave in life?

We may not have all the clear answers to these questions, but simply thinking about them helps us begin to determine where we are headed and where we eventually want to land.

Chart the Course – What is our plan of action as we head toward our destination? A wise navigator considers the possible storms, the length of the voyage, the necessary crew and the provisions needed for the journey. First, we must surround ourselves with positive and wise people who believe in our vision and can encourage  and advise us along the way. What are the other provisions necessary? It’s possible we may need further education, or we may need to develop a particular skill. Creating a one-year plan, a five-year plan and perhaps a ten-year plan can help us get a vision of what is needed down the road. Breaking down the one-year plan into quarters and writing out specific action steps for each quarter can also help us move forward in manageable steps.

Look Up.  Ancient mariners used the stars to guide their paths, and we can look to our Heavenly Father to guide our way. We can best navigate the waters of life as we seek our Creator’s wisdom and direction. It is good to know that we do not travel alone. He who sees all, promises to guide us along the way. Here’s His message to His people:

This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.”

Isaiah 48:17

This week, let’s look to Him to direct our paths and light the way in front of us.

Looking for positive answers. Check out Karol’s book, Positive Life Principles for Women.