If you feel the events of this year have been chaotic, you are not alone. Times that challenge our perceptions of the world, and how we collectively move through it, may leave us feeling a bit off-kilter, disheartened, or even rudderless.
This holiday season offers a valuable opportunity for those seeking relief to pause, take stock of what truly matters, reflect on past challenges, and recognize where we currently stand. These moments of contemplation are most effective when we delve deep within ourselves to “check in” with our inner compass.
An inner compass is a blend of our personal values, goals, and interests that provides direction and meaning to our lives. It helps us assess whether we are living in alignment with our true selves and indicates when a recalibration might be necessary.
“Most of us think too much about what we should do and not enough about what we should be. If we would pay more attention to what we should be, our work would shine forth brightly.” - Meister Eckhart, Fourteenth-century mystic and philosopher.
When we are guided by “what we should be,” our actions naturally align. The journey of becoming is smoother when we are attuned to our inner compass.
In his book, Find Your Compass: The Key to a Magic-Driven Life, author Herman O. Whitker shares personal stories about discovering reasons to laugh, love, learn, and live fully by striving to be his best self. He emphasizes that finding one’s inner compass is crucial and that developing and maintaining an inner guidance system helps us navigate life.
A few ways to access your inner compass include:
Throughout our lives, challenges often require us to recalibrate our inner compass. If you feel uneasy or unsettled by the challenges you’ve faced this year, remember that the University of Miami Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is here to help. Call our offices at 305-284-6604 to meet with one of our licensed mental health professionals. They can assist you in revisiting your internal compass and exploring how it can guide you toward honoring your true self.
Click here to read the full Mind and Matter Winter Edition.
