The Right Way

Which way should you go?  What should you do with your life, your self, your dreams?  Where's that darned map?

There is no right way.  You probably already knew that, though.  We would really like there to be a right way, and we'd like to know how to find it, though, because if we could just find that one right way then maybe things would be a tad easier.

The good news is that while there is no one right way, there are many good ways to get where we want to go.  Some will be better for you than others, so there might be some trial and error involved, but that can be fun if you let it. (There are wrong ways, too, and you'll feel that in your bones, in your heart, in the back of your mind.  Listen, and step away from those. Find a different route to try out.   Just don't keep searching for the one right way--that takes up too much of your time.  You could be out having fun instead!

But if there's no right way to get where you want to be, how do you know what you should do?  How do you decide which path to follow, which course to take, which idea to run with? A lot of that answer is subjective and depends entirely on you.  Lots of journaling and soul-searching will help.  But here are a few other things that will help.

• Decide on what it is you want.  If you want something that's multifaceted (you want to be a writer-painter-dancer-computer programmer, for instance), try to prioritize the different parts of the dream and decide what you most want to work on right now
• Make a list of possible ways to get where you want to be.  Find ways that feel good to you and really appeal to you and seem like they could be right and seem like you would enjoy going that route.  Don't pick classes, books, paths to follow because lots of other people have liked them, recommended them, said they're a sure way to make a million dollars. Pick what calls to your heart.
• Go over your list and read each possible plan.  Eliminate any that feel iffy or don't quite feel right.
• If you still have multiple items on your list and none of them are calling to you more strongly than the others, just pick one.  I know!  It sounds random and risky. What if it's not the right one?  See above.  Then just pick one.  Draw straws or flip a coin if you need to.  The important part is to pick just one thing that you're going to do to move you forward in your dreams.

Once you've decided on a path to follow, promise yourself to give it a real go.  Don't second guess yourself and keep looking at other courses or methods or groups that might be better.  They, or something much like them, will be there later if you want them. For now, run with your choice.  Give it time and attention and love and affection and energy and everything you can.  Give it everything you've got and see where you can go once you pick a direction.

Good luck!  Have fun!  Drop me a note on your journey and tell me how your dream is coming along.