Parents, teachers, and friends are some of the many guides that help us in deciding what to do and how best to do it. Our guides change as we grow older and for good reasons. But who do you trust when it comes to understanding the consequences for how you live your life and wherein lies your joy in life? Who do you trust when questioning your worthiness or dealing with a brokenness in your world?

Talking It Through

In recognizing your true guide it helps to think about and discuss with your friends and colleagues some of the guides you’ve had throughout your life. Wouldn’t some of these be your friends and colleagues? But what about your parents, siblings, and relatives; your teachers and supervisors; your social and political leaders in life. And what about those you’ve encountered in the social media, the gatherings you’ve attended, the stories you’ve heard, and the books you’ve read?

           Clearly, we are not lacking for possible guides and leaders, especially now that so many come knocking on our door whenever we open our mailboxes, phones, radios, TVs, and computers with advice and offers on how to live our lives. Those whose advice you listen to in addressing your personal concerns are your actual guides.

In getting to know your true guide, it helps to discuss the some of the more useful advice you’ve received at different times and situations in your life. For example, what advice did you heed when developing physically and whose advice in that regard are you heeding now? What advice and understandings of others have you seen reflected in your relationships with friends, fellow workers, and supervisors? Whose advice most influenced your choice of schools and careers, and recreations and how was it beneficial? What advice influenced the leaders you heeded and supported in your cultural, professional, and political associations.

What understandings of those you’ve listened to have helped you find joy and meaning in life? Spending some time discussing the source of that advice will help you recognize your true guide in your walk through life.

A Deeper Reflection