The Google Map of life
Those who follow this newsletter will know I enjoy an analogy here and there.
A simple and more straightforward way of explaining or describing a point I am trying to get across.
And guess what? This one is going to be no different.
I was in Ashbourne the other day and was heading to Skerries.
Now, I had an idea of how to get there, and I knew I could fly up the motorway onto the M1 and follow the signs to Skerries.
But I remembered you could cut out the motorway, head to Swords, and you could get to Ashbourne on the country roads.
I was unfamiliar with the roads but had "an idea" and was prepared to take a chance.
I could get lost, and the roads may be more challenging to drive on than the motorway, adding more risk.
Did I trust my judgment fully? Did I have faith in my ability to get to Skerries quickly, safely, and, more importantly, with minimum stress?
Then I thought, why not let google maps decide the best route? I knew where I wanted to go (destination), but the app would assist me in the path that, at that very moment, would be the best one to take.
Heavy traffic areas will be highlighted (in red) to warn me of the time delay to expect, warnings of unexpected halts or road closures, or other hazardous obstacles. Still, if I trust it and give it my careful attention, it will surely be the best route for me to take.
This very decision got me thinking.*analogy spoiler, this app is very similar to a therapist on a journey in therapy or one of personal self-development.
For we all have our very own personal destination in mind, be it a healing one, career or relationship-based, or removing ourselves from toxic surroundings or situations, we have taken the familiar paths time and time again second-guessed ourselves, and tried to get there by ourselves. Still, time and time again have found ourselves lost and possibly down paths with more obstacles that we did not expect to encounter.
In turn, that journey becomes less pleasant than we had hoped.
Once we decide to break those habits, decide these behaviors and decisions we have been making continue to lead us to be lost and unhappy. Only then may we finally see a clear road ahead of us.
The choice to seek out a therapist or, indeed, look inward at ourselves is a lot more challenging than using an app on our phone such as google maps but as uncomfortable as it is if the desire to get to that destination is strong within, wouldn't the best route possible be worth it?
The help provided can assist us each day just like google maps as we encounter the"traffic jams" in life, road closures, and all the other barriers that come into our paths.
Provide us with a choice we may not have thought of before and, in turn, make us question and challenge the paths we have taken previously.
But it can also lead us to places we have not witnessed before, the beautiful scenery and sights along the way, the road less traveled, and more importantly, the version and parts of ourselves we have perhaps yet to discover.
Sadly, unlike google maps, which gives us an estimated arrival time to our endpoint, life's journey is not as accurate.
Still, the right help and decisions may make the trip more enjoyable.
We all get lost occasionally, and we may find our way alone. Allowing ourselves to look and ask for help will enable us to reach our happy place and begin to enjoy all the new and exciting journeys we decide to make in the future.
As always, thanks for reading.
Marcus