The Danger of Drift

The past weekend Kathy & I enjoyed time with dear friends at a beautiful cottage.

While most of the time was spent talking, laughing and playing games, we also took advantage of the wonderful Fall weather outdoors at the dock and on the water.

Friday evening I headed out on a kayak toward an island about 1000 yards out. It was a beautiful evening and the perfect time to unwind while at the same time getting a good workout in.

As I rounded the island and headed back to my friends, I took time to rest, close my eyes, and just take in the moment.

But when I opened my eyes again, I realized how quickly I had drifted off course.

And isn't that how life gets sometimes?

I mean, regardless of our goals, ambitions, and best efforts it's easy to get sidetracked isn't it?

How do we drift?

Here are some ways it can happen to me...

1) I get distracted

We have so many inputs that it's easier than ever to be attracted by the next new thing, forgetting about the direction I was going in.

2) I get lazy

Maybe, I cut my workout short, or watch more TV than I should, or skip quiet time with God. A single choice can trigger a series of next choices that can become our daily habits; and our habits have a huge impact on, well, everything.

3) I get bored

I am a routine kinda guy...I like them. I eat virtually the same thing every day (I love leftovers), my morning routine doesn't change much either. But even I can get bored with the same old thing, especially if I lose sight of my goals.

Any or all of these things can cause us to get off course!

How to Combat Drift

1) Stop and assess.

I typically use a life assessment with my clients to get a baseline of where they are at. They score each major life area from 1-10. This reveals area where they want to give focus and make some changes.

You can do this right now. Consider the following...your health, your finances, your marriage, your friendships, your career and your spiritual life.

Q. On a scale of 1-10, where are you at today?

Q. Why did you choose that number?

Q. What would it take to move the needle at least 1 number?

Q. What will you do to implement that change?

2) Get Clear on Who You Are & Why You're Here

I wrote more about this last week; but answering these questions are critical in my opinion to staying on course and avoiding drift.

3) Listen to Your Heart

One of my favourite Bible verses is Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

What do you dream about doing? What can't you not stop thinking about?

Hint: if it seems "out there" and scares you, it's likely something you should pay attention to.

4) Get Support & Accountability

I rarely accomplish much in my life without the support and encouragement of others; be it my wife Kathy, a close friend, mentor or coach.

You likely won't stay focused on what's most important to you either, if you remain in isolation or keep things to yourself.

Drift...it happens to all of us. And on the lake, on a kayak, for just a few minutes? No big deal.

But when we drift in life? That matters. If you're drifting, you can do something about it. You can get back on track toward your preferred destination.

Stop...get clear...listen...and ask for help!

I can help, let's talk.