The word "navigate" is defined several different ways. Webster dictionary defines navigating as: "To steer, direct, or manage in sailing." Other definitions have described navigating as: "To pass through, over and around; used especially on a course having obstacles."
These definitions pretty much describes the course we take as we "navigate" our way through life. If anyone thinks that they control the day which they are living in; they better take another look at just how their day ended. Navigating our way through life is pretty much picking out the best forks in the road; and hoping that some of these roads have been paved in the last century.
As we look back at some of the twists and turns we have taken on our journey through life it's a wonder that some of us are still living. Some of the decisions which we made years ago seemed quite brilliant; now thinking back on these "decisions" we wonder if we had in fact used any brain cells at all when we made them.
Now as I watch our children and the choices they make; and I try to navigate from the "co-pilots" seat; this second seat is quite scary at times. We give our children advice from the mistakes which we made; and what do they do? Usually they end up making the same mistakes over and over again; regardless of our advice. Why is this?
Each life is chosen with a certain amount of obstacles in which we are to overcome in our lifetime. You can tell someone a hundred times, "don't stick your hand into the fire," and what do they do? You know the answer. Regardless of what "they've been told" or who they've seen make the same mistakes, each person has to learn his lesson the old fashion way; trail and error.
The only way to learn from our mistakes is to gain this valuable information on a "first hand basis." Learning to dodge the bumps and holes in the road of life is what life is all about. If you drove the same road every day you learned after a few days; where the rough spots were, and which lanes were the quickest and the most efficient. This holds true in the road of life as we bump along from one rough spot to the next.
It is up to each individual to navigate their own road in life. This is all a part of the evolution of the soul; our journey through eternity. Each time we stump our toe we learn a valuable lesson in life even if we don't realize it at the time. Our lives are made up of choices which are determined by decisions we have made in the past. Our minds then determine which road we take by the failures which we made in the past.
It been said that there are only two emotions which we live with: love and fear; I relate to it more as "like and dislike." We gravitate to the things that we like, and steer away from those which we dislike. Life is like a river as we flow through life; if you get too close to one side of the bank you are usually drawn into the shore by the strong current, as is the same with the opposite side of the river. The trick is to stay in the middle of the stream; in a nice even flow of life.
Another trick in navigating your way through life is choosing who you pattern your life after; or who you hang around with. Outside opinions have a way of influencing the way in which we think and make decisions. When it comes down to making a quick decision I usually go with my gut instinct; first instincts are usually right in most cases.
The best way to navigate through life is to be aware of what the day brings to you; and strive for the best outcome in each situation. If you try to force things to happen in life they usually never happen. Everything happens when the time is right; and if it doesn't; then it probably wasn't supposed to be; you can't force a square peg into a round hole.
The best part of life is the journey; so steer clear of the bog potholes in life, and try to stay in the middle of the stream. I find that things happen more easily in life if I let things flow in a nice even keel. Keep your mind open to opportunities that are sent your way, and the big break you've been waiting for; might be just around the next corner.