How to Recalculate Your Inner GPS

A few weeks ago, I was in Florida for business and needed to rent a car. It didn’t have a GPS system in it, so I needed to use an app on my phone.

No problem. I’ve done this hundreds of times.

This time, however, it was different. The map in the app was off and it told me to go in the wrong direction. Having never been to this place before, I trusted the app and followed what it told me to do.

Thirty minutes later, I was nowhere near where I wanted to be. I had a gut feeling that the information on the app was wrong, but I kept trusting that the GPS knew better than I did, especially since I was new to the area.

Finally, I stopped and asked directions and in ten minutes I arrived at my destination.

I was tired.

I was frustrated.

I forgot to trust myself.

Has this ever happened to you?

You listen to others; ignoring your own inner GPS?

It starts innocently at first.

You ask for an opinion on a decision you’re making.

Then you ask for another and another.

Pretty soon you’ve created an entire committee of people from various areas of your life and what happens? They all have differing opinions on what you should do.

Result?

Confusion.

Overwhelm.

Inaction.

That’s what your brain tells you. When you’re stuck in the Spin Cycle of overthinking, you don’t move forward.

You can’t make a decision.

What if you tried something different?

What if you trusted yourself to have the right and perfect answer for you?

(You knew I was going to say that, right?)

You have the answers deep inside you. We all do.

You just need to learn how to tap into them.

Think of yourself like a handyman.

He carries around lots of different tools to make sure he’s prepared to handle whatever situation comes up while he’s working on his customers’ projects. He has to trust himself and his expertise to handle the job that is in front of him. He doesn’t have the luxury of calling several of his handyman colleagues to ask their opinion on how to fix this or how to paint that. His customers are counting on his wisdom and experience to get the job done the right way for the issue at hand.

So, who is counting on you?

Yep, you guessed it. You are.

As a life coach, I utilize many tools to help my clients find the right answers. One of my favorites doesn’t require an app or subscription or monetary investment. It uses a tried and true method of excavation and is guaranteed to work every time.

What is this magical tool?

A journal.

Simple. Effective. Portable.

I first discovered the power of a journal years ago when I read Julia Cameron’s An Artist’s Way, where she talked about what she called “morning pages” and how impactful they can be. Never having journaled before, I was skeptical. However, her reasons were so convincing that I decided to give it a try.

Write in a journal every morning – filling up three pages.

Now before you gasp and say, “What?! THREE pages?! There’s no way I can take that kind of time in the morning! Besides, what will I write about?”

I have your answer.

Just do a brain dump onto the page. This isn’t about writing the great American novel. It’s about emptying your brain – all those worries, negative thoughts, confusion – and putting them in one place where you can find them (although something tells me you won’t feel the need).

And do you know what will start to happen?

Those thoughts you have about not knowing what to do will turn to thoughts of possibilities.

Overwhelm will start to melt giving way to clarity.

Problems find solutions.

Fear dissipates.

Gratitude grows.

I’ve been practicing this for years and have kept my journals, not to go back and relive the moments.

I keep them to remember where I was and see how far I’ve come.

Progress – not perfection.

That’s the direction I want my inner GPS to point me in.

Do you need help with your inner GPS? Not sure where to start? I can help! Book your complimentary Clarity Call with me and let’s see if working together is your next right step.