Have you ever been lost or confused and needed to look at a big map to find out exactly where you are? Maybe you were somewhere new and you had to ask for directions or you had to stop and pull out a visual map to get your bearings. Or maybe it was even somewhere you had been before but the way wasn’t super clear and you stopped to ask directions just for clarity (and maybe the sake of time!).
Help!
I’m at a conference at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center this week. I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve already had to stop and do all of the above! I’ve been here before, but the place is huge and the “way” to get places was a little fuzzy in my memory. I’ve stopped and asked for directions, looked at maps, wandered around and made a few wrong turns, and have even found shortcuts to get where I’m going.
I’m a visual person, so I’m thankful for all of the “You are here” maps that have the big X or dot on them and a little path marked out to show you where to go and where you currently are. You’ve seen them. The ones that often have many people standing around them with a somewhat puzzled look on their faces.
Have you ever observed how people approach those maps and what they do? They may look around and even point as they’re studying the map and trying to get their bearings. They often have that lost or confused look on their face. You can just tell. But once they get their bearings and know where they’re going, you see a different confidence as they walk away headed in the correct direction.
Life is like that. We often get a little “stuck” or are not sure about what our next step is. We need clarity and direction.
As I’ve had many opportunities to share about coaching this week while helping with the Professional Christian Coaching Institute booth in the exhibit hall, the visual of the big “You are here” X has stuck in my head.
That’s really what it’s all about. Getting a realistic look of where you are and where you’re trying to go, and then figuring out how to get there.
You are here………………………………………………..”X” is where you want to go. What do you need to do to get there? As a coach, that’s what I do in it’s simplest form.
Of course, from a spiritual perspective, the question is really: You are “here” in life……………………………but “X” is where God would like you to be. How do you close the gap to get there?
- Where are you in life?
- What is God calling you to next?
- What will you need to do to get there?
Often that’s where people get stuck — What to do to get there. As a coach, my role is to then help them to clarify their vision and break down the steps to get there and achieve their goal. Sometimes it’s as simple as one baby step at a time. Other times it can be radical leaps of faith. It’s really all very exciting to see how God works in each person’s life.
Are you “stuck” in life?
- Do you have an area where a big map would help? ……..gaining clarity, figuring out your next step?
- What is is that God is calling you to do?
- Maybe you’re unsure of how to do it What kind of options do you have? What would be the best choice? What’s the first step?
Do you know where you are on the map?
What will you do today to move forward in the direction of where you’re headed?
