By Dr. Michael Osit
So many of us rely on GPS to map our travel path. But Google Maps and Waze provide us with more than just the directions to our destination. We know the exact arrival time, if there are interferences such as accidents and road closures, where we can refuel our car and satisfy our hunger, make a bathroom pit stop, recharge our electric vehicle, and adjust our arrival time due to traffic. GPS also provides us with alternative routes to avoid mishaps and make our travel time more efficient. It enables us to have a bird’s eye view into our immediate future.
NOW IMAGINE IF WE HAD GPS TO HELP US THROUGH OUR LIFE’S DESTINATION! It would be a Life Global Positioning System (LGPS). First of all, we would know when we reach the end of our journey. That is debatable and personal as to whether that is a desirable or undesirable piece of information. However, we all know there is an ending but we just don’t know when it will come. But if we could see our path along with all the potential detours and roadblocks ahead of us, we could avoid many unfortunate events and optimize our decision-making. We would know when to take an alternate route or make adjustments in the way we approach our goals or even change our goals completely. An LGPS would enable us to see our future and make a judgment about not only how we get there, but if the ultimate goals are where we want to go. We would know when to take a break if we are exhausted and how to spend that time at the “rest stop.” We would frequently be able to determine if we are on the right path or if we have veered off course. Not only that, a voice would be constantly telling us which way to go and warn us about potential problems up ahead.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as an LGPS. So, we must provide our own compass to navigate through life. We can’t see the future and there is no voice telling us how and where to go- except the voice in our heads. Being mindful of your daily and life goals and how you choose to get there is essential to having your own personal LGPS. Try to look ahead to identify and ward off potential problems. Modify your daily and long-term plans by looking ahead both for the next turn and future steps. At the same time, be aware of and enjoy the present leg of your journey. Allow the LGPS that you create and manage to determine your path to happiness, and always listen to your inner voice to tell you when to take a rest, stay on your path, or change it.
Dr. Michael Osit is a Licensed Psychologist practicing in Warren, and the author of The Train Keeps Leaving Without Me: A Guide to Happiness, Freedom, and Self Fulfillment (2016), and Generation Text: Raising Well Adjusted Kids In An Age Of Instant Everything (2008).