We are always aiming for some version of an ideal life; and we are, to one degree or another, aware of changes that would take us there more surely. Much of the time, that vision and its related desire for change are unconscious. We just have an uneasy, dissatisfied feeling about some aspect of our lives.
The personal growth journey that we have explored this year encourages us to bring our implicit desires forward, into the light of day. We articulate our ideals. We identify gaps between existing and desired. We ask why we want to change and size up our self-confidence. We develop action plans and support networks. We try, and learn, and review, and try something else. We make progress and celebrate and give thanks.
From week to week and month to month, we continue to head in the same general direction. The compass points north is and we go there. However, every so often; perhaps seasonally (and at least annually), it is helpful to step back again and look at the big picture. Is this where we really want to go? What have we learned along the way, not only about the means to our end but about the end itself? Compasses need to be calibrated to re-align with "true north" when you travel from place to place around the globe. So do our internal compasses.
What is still true-north about your view of the good life? Have your perspectives or priorities changed? Some times in our lives are dominated by economic questions; for example those resulting from retirement, demotion, or job loss. At other times, we pay more attention to changes in relationships with life partners, parents, children, grandchildren, and friends. Health and physical wellness might take center stage. Or finding meaning in our lives with fulfilling work, community service, hobbies, travel, and learning. Your ideals may have shifted, or their relative importance changed since the last time you looked.
Once we refine the direction toward which our personal compasses point, we will want to realign our efforts accordingly. If I am diagnosed with a serious illness, my efforts will focus on understanding the condition and treating it. Other goals will take the back seat for now. If my daughter and her husband are divorcing, my energy will move toward supporting her. If I lose my job to downsizing, I will be focused on how to meet my need for income, social interaction, and sense of purpose. It is quite possible that yesterday's vision has changed and the compass needs adjusting before we take the next steps.
