One of my favorite Proverbs states, “Guard you heart, for out of it flows the issues of life.” The “thoughts” that we allow to harbor and grow in our hearts will have the greatest impact on our actions—and, ultimately our future. This proverb reminds me that I must be in a constant process of assessing my life.
Please note that what I am about to share is by no means a scientific tool, but in my own life I have found that the attitude I take when I am behind the wheel of my car is often very reflective of how I am running my life at the time. Our cars can be a sacred place—like a trusted and reliable friend. I have cried, prayed and held conversations in my car that no one knows. It’s a place where I can let down my guard.
Here are some quick driving assessments to tune up your soul:
1. The Parking Test: I live in New York and parking can be an absolute nightmare in most of the boroughs. For years, I commuted to the city on a daily basis. I would often drive around the neighborhood near my train, looking for parking. During one particular season of my life, I began to notice that I was passing up parking opportunities because of a nagging feeling that something had to be wrong if I found it so easily. Whenever I felt that way, I would keep driving—only to return a few minutes later to find that someone else had filled that space. It suddenly dawned on me that I was missing opportunities and wasting valuable time.
Questioning is wise, but overthinking only leads to stagnation. Do you overthink some of the actions you want to take in life? Are you always looking for something better? Do you let quality opportunities pass you by?
2. The Traffic Test: When I first moved to the Big Apple, I was terrified to drive these congested streets. My mind was consumed with the stereotypical NY driver that I’d seen in movies. But in order to survive, I had to learn how to drive like a New Yorker. Here, we don’t wait for people to let us over. We stick the nose of our cars where we want it and take it! It is an unspoken rule of the road.
In NY, you won’t survive as a driver, or get anywhere on time, if you don’t know how to balance wisdom with aggression. In life, we must adapt our methods (not our morals) to the environment in order to be successful. How do you handle the flow of life’s traffic?
3. The Cut Off Test: Being cut off while driving is par for the course when driving in NY. Normally, I can handle this inconvenience with ease. But when my patience level is at a low, I find myself blaring my horn and rolling down my window to argue back. In life, it’s critical that more than we want to be right, we must want results aligned with our overall values. Nothing can detour life’s blessings like holding offenses can. How do you handle “cut offs” on the road and in life? Do you demonstrate patience? Or, do things have to go your way?
Do Your Work: Get real about your focus! Whatever area(s) in life you’d like to see a change, fix your focus so that you can get there.
Define Your Wealth: “I will reach my goals through fixed focus and disciplined action!”
Named eWomenNetwork’s first “North America’s Next Greatest Speaker” in 2012, Coach Felicia is a Certified Executive Coach who empowers her clients to “Turn their Worth into Wealth” as she partners with them to DISCOVER their WORTH, DO their WORK and DEFINE their WEALTH. Get more insight, download the FREE “8 Choices Winners Must Make” seminar MP3 at www.coachfelicia.com.
