Step up, Look Out
On a really gorgeous sunny day I went for a small hike in the hills of Southern Illinois. I followed a path and was by myself and into my own thoughts. At some point, I wondered how far I had walked and noticed that I had really no way to find that out, since the path did not give me any indication about the timeframe it would take to return to my car. It was supposed to be a round course ending again at the start point.
I had two options: I could keep walking in the same direction or I could turn around. If I turned around I knew I had quite a lot to walk back to the parking lot since I came that way. To keep moving forward could be longer or shorter– I had no way of knowing. I stopped for a few minutes, sat down on a tree stump, and took a break while thinking about this topic.
Going back promises in this scenario a certain level of stability and comfort zone. I know what I will get, even I am not too thrilled about the long walk back. Moving onward in the same direction I was heading is full of surprises; I did not know what to expect. The length of my journey could be an improvement or maybe not– I had a 50/50 chance on that. Maybe my car could be right behind the next curve. Trying a shortcut was not an opportunity since I didn’t pay attention to how my path curved and went. I would have been lost for sure; staying on the path was the only possibility. But in which direction would I reach my goal safely and quickly?
In my life, I have found myself often in such dilemma. Which way to choose? I usually love my comfort zone and I’m not the true adventurer and thrill seeking person. “Don’t stop just before the miracle!” came to my mind. The miracle could be my car just sitting around the next corner. I also thought “You can only grow outside your comfort zone.” But seriously… all I wanted was to reach my car by that point, no further growing required. I was tired, my feet hurt and I was getting hungry and thirsty. I loved my path so far, but a finish would be nice by now.
My problem there was that I did not have enough information to make a good decision. My phone wasn’t helpful without a network and I had not prepared for this walk. But I had one possibility left: I could climb that little hill at my side and see if I get a little overview of the area. As I did this, I could clearly see the parking lot, not far away in the direction I was heading if I kept going on my journey as I was. This little climb up the hill cost me less than five minutes of my time, but saved me a lot of time and effort in preventing a wrong decision.
Most of my decisions in life seem complicated or confusing out of the same reason: I do not have enough information or the right overview. It does not make any sense to sit there on the path, waste time and worry about any outcomes or directions to take. It makes more sense to work on the solution and gather the information I need to have to make good decisions. Before I get angry or maybe desperate about some decisions that need to be made, I first need to get a better overview of the territory.
Anxiety about taking a path is often just the fear of making a wrong decision. I can reduce anxiety and worry in my life by being more informed and then stop guessing about situations. Just always remember: which ever path you choose was one you chose with the best available information possible at the time. The worst thing is to use the phrase “should have” at the end. You did what you did and regrets don’t undo the situation. Add the experience to your information to help you decide at the next turning point in your life. The biggest obstacles of life help you with are future obstacles. Use them to climb.