By Maurice Carroll
Depending on your age and experience, your perception of a good driver may vary. So, how do we judge what a good driver is and isn’t?
Factors influencing this perception could include the driver’s adherence to traffic laws, attentiveness to road conditions and courtesy towards other road users. As a passenger, you might value a smooth and comfortable ride, where abrupt stops and aggressive maneuvers are minimized. We all have experienced the sometimes frustrating or humorous communication styles of some drivers.
One of the things we can all agree on is that–good or bad–what defines a driver is someone who is operating a moving vehicle. I don’t actively operate vehicles anymore despite having a valid license to do so. As a passenger, this has given me a different perspective on a statement that hurried passengers used to give me when I was driving, “Drive!…just use the GPS and follow the directions.”
I’ve had moments to ponder this statement. Depending on your perspective, it could seem a bit harsh, or rushed and maybe a little aggressive– but what if we applied this statement to our lives?
If you take a moment to think about it, most people drift through life. You don’t see the average person processing life with what we describe as “drive.” When we do see someone who fits that description– it seems that they have found a way out of the matrix. On the contrary, for most of us, it seems as if there are directions and paths that have been predetermined for us that we just sort of unconsciously follow without much contemplation.
Which type of person are you? Which type of person would you like to be?
Here’s a helpful thought: If you allow your mind to consider which type of person you’d like to be, you’ve already started the process of understanding direction.
If you are brave enough to continue with that thought pattern and then decide to take action on those thoughts, you are then “following direction.” I want to offer a few steps needed to be able to drive your life by following directions. You may hear a few trending phrases like “live with purpose” or “…give intention…” All of these phrases point to the same outcome of becoming the operator of a moving vehicle. The vehicle is your life. If you want to be the driver of your life and need directions to follow, here are five steps.
1-Sign up
Driving your life requires a strong mindset. Signing up for this shift means caring for your mental health. Seek out practices that are comfortable for you such as time to engage in mindfulness or journaling.
2-Get a permit
Give yourself permission to learn something new about the process. Permit yourself to explore beyond what you don’t already know. Be teachable.
3-Practice
Apply what you’ve learned. Be it a belief– a method or an idea– the point is to apply it. Allow yourself room and grace to grow knowing that you may not get it perfect every time.
4-Take the exam
This is when you formally test the knowledge or ability that you’ve acquired to obtain qualification. Examine the outcomes.
5-Fulfill requirements
As you progress through these steps, they begin to become a part of who you are. This step is when you embrace what you do or who you have become and to be necessary, to be expected and to accomplish.
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