3 Tips to Get Started on Your Roadmap to Greatness
“Our deepest challenge is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~Marianne Williamson
At the start of any journey, we usually only have a destination in mind. We know we want to go “there,” wherever that may be. But beyond that, if we are to ever “get there,” we’ll need a plan – a map to guide us along the way.
Many years ago, my parents and I took a trip to California. We knew we wanted to fly to LA, rent a car, drive to San Francisco and make stops to different places along the way. Initially, this is all we knew. The details of how it would all play out, what stops we would make, and the best routes to take remained vague and unknown…until we had a map! And yes, this was a time before things like GPS were readily accessible, so it was an actual printed roadmap for our journey. But no matter the type of map it was, the information to guide us was all there. The map would be our reference tool, help us plan out our course, and continually guide us each step of the way so we could finally be on our way!
In the same way, when it comes to our lives and where we see things going, we usually have a general outline of our future goals and plans. But the "how" to do it all, is often vague and unknown too. The map isn't perfectly laid out in front of us. So, planning your trip to greatness is really no different at all than when my family & I planned our trip to California. Embarking on a journey of personal growth and development also requires a map to guide you along the way. Here are a few tips to help you get going on your own journey:
- Start a Daily Writing Practice: Writing comes easily for some, not so much for others. Don’t fret. And certainly, don’t attempt to use the excuse that you’re just not a writer! As far as I’m concerned, we are all writers. Just think about how much writing you already do on any given day: emails, texts, to-do lists. You can write. And not only that, you can find 10-minutes a day to carve out for writing Every Day. Ideally, the morning time is the best time to do this practice as your mind is clear and still free of the complaints of the day. I urge you to try to make this your writing time, as it really can provide the best results. But if it’s not possible, then designate an evening practice instead. So what will I write about? Anything. Everything. Nothing. That’s the beauty of it! Sitting down to write – and I do strongly recommend writing in a notebook, touching pen to paper – will draw out more than you realize if you give it a chance. The key is to just get into the habit and routine of daily writing. And let go. Once you do, you’ll find you begin to think, express, and explore more deeply each day. The routine itself will become an act of meditation for you, and after you’ve truly ingrained it into your daily practice, a sense of peace, clarity, and focus will emerge.
- Inquire Within: Getting to greatness involves getting to know yourself a little better. More precisely, it requires identifying where you are right now. Through the practice of writing daily, you’ll find that certain themes keep showing up, the same complaints arise, and similar words/ideas keep popping up. Make a note of them, and soon you’ll have a list of all of your strengths and weaknesses and habitual ways of being. Go back through your journal and circle key words that stand out & keep recurring. Highlight themes you’re starting to notice. With this list you’ll be creating a map for what skills you’ll need to learn, what areas need improvement, and what abilities you may be lacking. You’ll pinpoint areas to be worked on and addressed right away, and determine what should be a priority. Some things will make perfect sense and be immediately obvious to you as you’ve no doubt been aware of your main ‘issues’ all along. But there’s also no doubt that some surprises will show up too. Pay attention, and be ready to really see who you’ve been and who you can really be once you’ve paused to take notice.
- Commit to Your Future Self: You likely have a vision of where you want or need to be in your life to be great! You see the goal, the destination ahead. But there are bumps along the way. There’s work to be done. And quite frankly, you’re not always in the mood to do it. It’s easy to have a bad day and then lose your momentum on your daily writing practice, or any other good habits you’ve put in place over time. Making excuses is almost always easier than making a commitment to your future. But you can’t expect to move forward in your life without doing the work. Your future self is waiting and depending on you to show up in your own life NOW. You can do it! Stay the course. Remember you can stay committed to your goals and still be flexible in your approach. Your future self will thank you!
By the time you’ve worked on just these few tips, you’ll see that the roadmap is starting to fill in nicely. And soon there will be a more clear view up ahead. You will grow more in tune with the inner voice emerging to guide you on your path. And you’ll see that the map has always been there for you at the ready — your very own guidance system, your own internal GPS with pre-printed maps, routes, and suggestions! You just had to look for it, trust it, listen to it, and commit to it! I promise that if you embark on this journey, you will be glad you did.