One of consistent challenges that people talk about when they engage Inzet is the feeling of being “stuck!” The realization that something is not right with life can manifest itself in various ways. A feeling of emptiness, a bothersome disquiet, or a strange pain, that begins to trouble our souls. We feel guilty, anxious, unsatisfied, stressed, or sad even in moments when we ought to be at peace and carefree; when we should be relaxing or enjoying ourselves, like VACATION.
“Live your life by a compass, not a clock.”
Stephen R. Covey
As I spend the week at the beach on my yearly family vacation (called Mizcation), I was reminded of a book by Stephen Covey, called First Things First. Every time we don’t put first things first, when we fail to follow our purpose and focus on the most important things in life, our conscience warns us that something’s not right. The book describes the compass as what is most important and valued in our individual lives. The compass represents our specific calling, values, vision, most cherished relationships, and purpose for life. It embodies the core reason and meaning of our existence. The clock, on the other hand, symbolizes what we do with, and how we spend our time. It represents our daily schedules, including our work, appointments, commitments, and various other activities.
Through my time participating in my own Inzet to Purpose program and helping others in the same program, I see these warning signs appear when people sense a gap between the compass and the clock. In my case, I found that my time was not devoted to activities that supported my purpose, nor did it always leave room for enough quality time with loved ones.
Some never take the time to reflect and understand what truly defines the unique compass in their lives. Others lack the required willpower and discipline required to even begin this journey back to normality. Some start and quickly give up when the daily cares and distractions of the world overwhelm and discourage us. Others quit because they are afraid of failure; they give up before trying. This is why Inzet exists. The Inzet to Purpose Program helps people focus on leading a purposeful and meaningful life, in relationship with a community of like-minded people.
Looking Back with Phase One
The only effective way to address the root cause and find relief from this “stuckness” is to put first things first and look back at our pasts to understand how we landed were we did.
Reframing with Phase Two
Once our look back has prepared our hearts and minds, we can being a process of self-examination and reflection, while we reframe our narrative to live out our purpose in a tangible way. A human being without purpose, direction, and meaningful goals is like a ship without a rudder. He wonders about aimlessly, tossed to and fro on the storms of life, without control over his destiny or the course of his life. This is no way to live. During phase two of the Inzet to Purpose program, participants make the decision to have the courage to act and stay the course!
Taking Action with Phase Three
All our self-examination, self-reflection, prioritization, and preparations must lead to action. We cannot spend time only contemplating without the proactive and pragmatic steps needed to move us forward. As the old saying goes, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” During phase three, we get busy working and doing what we know is right. This is often the hardest part. We must overcome our fears and muster the courage to act and nurture the necessary determination and discipline to stay the course. There’s no getting around doing this hard work. We must fight these daily battles and keep our priorities straight. We must find and make time for what is truly important in our lives.
