Guy Reams (00:00.814)
This is day 74, setting your bearing. Imagine being dropped into the middle of a vast wilderness, handed a compass and a map, and told to find your way out. The tools are there, the compass to show you the direction, the map to mark the way. But unless you know how to use them together, you're just as lost as you were without them. Many people have the right tools, but lack the skills to align them. The same is true in life.
We often set commitments and goals, but we fail to align them in a way that truly guides us forward. Our commitments, like a compass, provide direction. They tell us where True North lies, the values, habits, or promises that define who we want to be. Our goals, like the map, give us the broader picture, showing us where we want to go and how to get there. But without setting a bearing, without regularly checking in to ensure we're on the right path, we risk wandering aimlessly.
Feeling busy, but not making any progress. The compass is the commitment. Commitment is what keeps us grounded. It's a steady, consistent guide. Even when the terrain gets rough, a compass doesn't rely on how you feel in the moment or the obstacles in your way. It simply points north. In a similar fashion, a commitment reminds you of the promises you've made to yourself, regardless of distractions or challenges that have happened during the day.
But a compass alone won't lead you to your destination. It's not enough to know your direction. You have to connect it to your location and your map. The map is like the goals. The goals give us a context for our commitments. They define what success looks like and map out the steps to get there. The goals without commitments are like a map with no way to navigate it. It's easy to get lost in the details, overwhelmed by the distance, or stuck
when the path isn't clearly marked. To make progress, we need to actively align our goals with our commitments. This means setting a clear bearing, linking your daily actions, your commitments, to the bigger picture, your goals. So, setting the bearing is the missing piece. It's the key to alignment. Here's where the analogy becomes very practical. In navigation, you just don't glance at a compass and hope for the best.
Guy Reams (02:28.258)
You orient your map to match the compass and set a bearing to ensure that every step you take moves you towards your destination. In life, this means you identify your true north. What values or priorities guide your decisions? This is your starting point for making meaningful commitments. You then set a specific goal. Think of this as marking a destination on your map. Be clear about where you want to go and why you're going there.
Then you plot your path, break your goal into actionable steps. What does staying on course look like day to day? And then check your bearing. On a regular basis, review your progress. Are your daily actions moving you closer to your goal or have you drifted off course? The wilderness of life is full of distractions, setbacks, and false trails. It's easy to lose sight of your destination or forget why you started. But when you understand how to use the commitment, which is the compass,
and the goals, the map, together, you're better equipped to find your way, even when the path isn't clear. Without commitment, we wander aimlessly. Without goals, we spin in circles, mistaking motion for progress. But with both aligned and reviewed on regular basis, and with a proper bearing, we move steadily towards the life we want to build. Take time to pull out your map and your compass. Reflect on your commitments.
Are they pointing you toward your true north? Look at your goals. Are they still where you want to go? Set your bearing and start walking with intention. In the wilderness and in life, the journey isn't about perfection. It's about purposeful navigation. And every step in the right direction brings you closer to the person that you are meant to be.