Beyond the Compass: Unlocking the Secrets of Life’s Journey with Essential Navigation Tools

Equipping yourself for the adventure of life

When navigating the physical world, we employ tools: GPS, a compass, maps, travel books, Google and Yelp reviews, and directions from friends.

Very few of us are like John Muir and feel comfortable journeying out into the wilderness without a plan or directions.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul”―John Muir

We seek navigation. Ancients navigated by stars. The history of mapping can be traced to more than 5,000 years ago. Ancestors pass down directions from generation to generation. We follow familiar routes and paths as we navigate the world.

Paths can be literal as in footpaths or towpaths or metaphorical as in a creative path or the path to higher consciousness.

And so it goes with life, too. Trying to navigate life by the seat of our pants won’t (usually) get us where we want to or need to go.

Life requires a little more action and intent on our part. What tools and resources do you use to navigate life? I’ve found some that have steered me in the right direction even when I didn’t quite know the direction I wanted or needed to go.

I call these navigational tools for life’s journey

Writing/Morning Pages/Journaling. Wherever you are in your journey or whatever your goals for your life are, journaling has a place. If you are a writer, journaling takes on an even deeper significance. I am a convert of Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages. This daily exercise is on my list of don’t-leave-home-without navigational tools. Learn more about Morning Pages here.

Silence allows us to hear our inner voice/God’s voice as guidance. Make space for silence — your heart won’t shout. Silence allows you to take your soul with you wherever you go.

Scripture. The Bible is the best-selling book of all time for a reason. There’s wisdom to be found there. You don’t have to interpret every word as literal — that’s not the correct way to read the Bible. Read the parables and think about how they apply to your life. Read ancient advice from Proverbs and apply principles for a good life to your actions and choices. Learn from the lives of those described in scripture.

Contemplation (taken in various doses throughout the day). Even a 20-minute walk to sit beside the water or let your gaze stretch to the horizon as you take in the sunset is contemplation. Contemplation shows us what we’re thinking, how we’re breathing, and gives us time to readjust our sails.

Affirmations and prayers. I can’t even think about starting my day without these navigation tools. As Annie Dillard said,

How we spend our days, is, of course, how we spend our lives.

Putting off this step is like leaving shore without a compass or map. Where do you want your day to go? How will you get there without first setting the intention and affirming it? I always make sure these are grounded in truth and align with my core values, dreams, and intentions for my life.

Walking, I’ve found, is the backbone of life. With or without a destination, walking resets the busy mind, the spine twisted and bent from too much sitting. Walking slows life down so you can think. Am I on the right track? When did I blow off course? What is distracting me from my path? What detours have I taken that need course correcting?

Yoga and breathwork. This settles the nervous system so you can attune to what’s important without the distraction of over-stimulation and anxiety. The world is full of things to pay attention to, and for some, this can easily blow us off course. Yoga and breathwork bring us back to our center.

Tea. There is something calming about a hot cup of tea (or other hot beverage as you prefer) that helps us slow down. After all, you can’t rush with a hot beverage in your hand. The sipping and settling back into a comfy chair evokes the feeling of reflection. And reflection is key to navigating life.

Confused? Not sure if you are on track? Brew a cup of tea, sip slowly, and I am positive things will be clearer when you reach the bottom of your cup.

Name the things and feelings. You can’t navigate in the dark — it’s much harder and prone to accidents. When we know what we’re truly feeling, we can move forward.

Staying stuck is never the answer. When stuck, I start naming what I am feeling, what’s holding me back, and what’s ruminating inside my mind. This frees me up to see these things as what I am feeling, not who I am, and seeing them from a distance offers perspective and solutions.

You can’t see the forest for the trees — when navigating life, you sometimes have to get outside the thick of things to see where you are and where you want to go.

We all need navigation tools but be sure to allow for some exploration too, you know, like make time to smell the roses, or as I like to say, pick the daisies.

Lighten up, trust, and listen (the universe is full of clues if we’ll only listen). In other words, be curious, flexible, and allow for some detours, too!

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