Course Correction. #1 Tool for Life.

How does a ship leave a port and arrive at an intended destination? What’s the critical piece of the trip that makes it all work? Is it a great start, fast pace, skilled crew, plenty of fuel? While these are important, none are the key ingredient to a successful trip. Like life, the most important aspect of the journey is the course correction. A crew can’t simply believe they’re on the right path. Confidence will not guide the ship. The crew must measure against a standard, a correct path and adjust as needed, as often as needed.

To apply any lessons learned from the ship metaphor to our own life, we must first have a destination. Knowing where you are headed takes practice. You might be waiting for the right feeling or awarence of a calling before declaring, even privately, your destination. The practice is more important than the selecting the best port. Get in the habit of declaring your destination, your goal, and practice staying on course.

If you aren’t used to declaring a goal, if you are out of practice, out of shape, start with something easy. Name something you intend to get done tomorrow or next week. Call your shots. Play on purpose. Some examples:

1. I intend to be in bed by 11pm each day.
2. I intend to walk for 15 min 3 times this week.
3. I intend to send an email each day expressing my thankfullness for someones help or influence.
4. I intend to read offline for 10 min each day.
5. I intend to get a public library card.
6. I intend to make my bed everyday.

The practice is what matters. Call your shots. Get in the habit of living a plan, on purpose. And here’s the power tool required for success. Just as the ship must compare the current path with the intended path in order to be able to correct course, you must compare. You must pause and ask yourself, “Am I on track?”

This pause, this reflection is the number one tool for life. None of this is orginal to me. It is something I’ve learned from others and through trial and error. When is the best time to reflect? Noon or middday. Set an alarm on your phone and have a few questions ready to ask yourself. You can keep the questions in the description of the alarm or in a note. Be kind to yourself. Anger or disappointment or shame don’t adjust a ship, only a course correction will do. If you speak to others like you speak to yourself, you wouldn’t have any friends.

1. Name 2 or 3 things to be grateful for today?
2. Are you on track? If not, adjust.
3. What did you do well today?

With practice, you’ll get better at calling your shots. With refletion, you’ll be able to course correct soon enough and often enough to stay on course. You can build the foundational habits to pursue bigger goals and dreams.

Need help? Send an email to a friend brave enough to keep you accountable. Tell the friend what you intend to get done next week. At the end of the week, reply to the friend with your results. You’ll quickly learn what you can get done and what you cant’t; your strengths and weaknesses. If you don’t have a friend, send me an email. I’ll help get you started.

Greg