Velocity

Taking control of life's direction 

Life seems to be a continual rush. We're told to get out of bed or we'll be late; start work on the assignment or it won't be finished on time; make decisions about our career path or we won't get the best jobs. From the moment we take out first step, life seems to be always about going somewhere or doing something. It's about movement and action. For many of us, though, life can simply become a race that has no specific destination, driven by a momentum that is determined not by what we really want to achieve, but by forces that seem to be out of our control.

Force determines direction.  The pathways we take in life and the speed at which we travel them is rarely random. The forces that move us in certain directions can enhance our self worth and our understanding and tolerance of others, but they can also destroy our integrity, sense of fair play, and undermine our self esteem. Surrounding ourselves with strong supportive influences that nurture us as individuals can be an important step in developing our full potential 

Becoming the driver.  For some people, life is like being on a rudderless raft in the middle of the ocean. Where we end up is determined by the waves and wind. For others, disappointment, setbacks and even disabilities are simply challenges to be overcome. While they can't change the wind and the waves, they can trim the sails and determine the direction that they want to go in.  

Development of character.  Success is often rated by the milestones that we achieve and the speed by which we achieve them. But real success is more about the values we hold and "who" we are rather than what we own and what we have done. Just as speed is calculated as distance covered over a period of time, so who we are can be gauged by the development of our character over time. 

Encouragement.  Ever seen parents cheer when their baby starts to crawl then takes that first tentative step? For some people, maintaining the momentum to move on to the next stage of life may need a lot of encouragement. This is what true friends do: celebrate when goals are achieved, then encourage further and further accomplishments. 

Motion out of control.  Just as an object rolling down a hill will gather speed, so a life hurtling down a destructive pathway will become more and more out of control. With determination and support, however, the downward spiral can be stopped. More often, though, the end may be disappointment and even catastrophe. Drug and alcohol use may seem "cool" and even necessary to be part of the in-group and fast lane. But a fast lane to no-where is ultimately no substitute for a considered path that leads to personal growth and development. 

The pathways we take in life may be diverse and the rate that we travel along them varied. There may be times when life throws up hurdles that seem to stop us in our tracks and make us give up on our dreams. But life isn't just about chance. We do have the power to work through difficulties and to move forward. We also have the power to become the force that is needed to initiate the change that encourages others to move forward, and reach their full potential.