No doubt youve heard the old notion of goal-setting: If you don't know where you're going you'll probably end up somewhere else. Anna Miller-Tiedeman, PhD. ruefully addresses this adage with however, even if you do know where you're going, most likely, you'll still end up somewhere else. Havent we all experienced the truth of this?

Many people constantly pressure themselves to set goals or having had too many failed past attempts ignore goals altogether. There is a path between these two extremes that is less stressful and beneficial to our well-being. This is the path of aspiring to be our best in each moment; of having clear, positive intentions and of seeing everything as our lifework.

Goals and resolutions we white-knuckle and self-will to accomplish cause us stress. When we do not meet these goals and deadlines our self-esteem and well-being can suffer. Instead we can begin afresh with heart-felt positive intentions rather than hard-driven goals. We can aspire to do and be much in AND take steps to do so as we are nudged, inspired and called.

Trust and Flow with Life

In this approach to life we trust and flow with Life, God, and the Universe. Certainly, there is room in this philosophy for goals and planning if that is your style. However, if our plans do not work out can we trust life and view this change in our plans as part of our lifework as part of the Divine Design?

I have clearly seen when I push and hurry myself to get something done (or find an answer) the work often becomes hard, forced and much goes awry. Stymied then, I have learned to let go knowing I can live with whatever outcome. Wondrously, later - maybe a day or two or more - a little urge, a wee inspiration bubbles up within me and I effortlessly go do the very thing which had me stymied.

So if you dont know where you are going that is OK. Perhaps we might be better served aspiring to be ok with uncertainty and not knowing; following our hunches and inspirations; and trusting our path is unfolding before us even though we cannot see the end destination.

Of course, this does not mean simply sitting on the couch waiting for manna from heaven to direct us. We also must be actively seeking and asking. Seek and ye shall find. Ask and ye shall receive.

A Sense of Direction and Purpose

One of the best ways to get a sense of our direction, unique purpose or potential is to deeply value and apply our strengths. Most people become blank when I ask them what their greatest strengths and talents are. As Abraham Maslow writes we have a kind of resistance, a denying of our best side, of our talents, of our finest impulses, of our highest potentialities, of our creativeness.

Robert Cooper, PhD., and Ayman Sawaf proclaim in their book Executive EQ that to find our purpose in life requires, first and foremost, coming to know our talents and aligning them in service of our calling in life. Their research suggests we ask ourselves, What specifically, are my greatest strengths and talents? In truth, every one of us can do one or two things better than any other ten thousand people.

The deep truth in this statement can inspire us if we allow it to do so. Let us ponder this question and this truth; and also, ask those who are near and dear to us What do I do better than any other ten thousand people? If we can but own, value, and cherish our greatest talents we then, have the seed to grow the work we love. What a wondrous gift to ourselves.