Wherever you are right now is fine...
Posted on 5th February 2025 at 07:17
You’ve probably heard this story before in one form or other. And, before we go any further, we’d better say that it harks back to pre satnav days, although it does still happen from time to time… Anyway, before we digress too far, on with the story.
Someone gets lost and stops to ask a Local for directions. Usually, said Local is leaning on a gate or chewing a straw, so it’s easy for the person lost to be rather rude about them (!). The Local thinks about it for a moment and then says, well I wouldn’t start from here…

While this probably isn’t the funniest story you’ve ever heard (!), it neatly illustrates the approach we all too often have to anything unwanted in our lives. We don’t want to start from here.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly where we are – for the moment at least – and no amount of wishing is going to change that. The more we say “I really don’t want to be here. I really, really don’t want to be here” the more impetus and energy we’re giving to whatever it is.
Then, just to make matters worse, we give all the reasons why we don’t want to be where we are and how it has nothing to do with us. Or, more accurately, the Little Monster in our Heads does…
And, while it may feel better to try and “pass the buck” in some way, the truth is that we did play a part. Whether by our thoughts or beliefs – in other words, expecting it to happen – words or deeds. Consciously or unconsciously.
So, however much the Little Monster in our Heads may try to convince us otherwise, this is where we are right now and we are involved in some way.
While it may seem counter intuitive, simply acknowledging that this is ok – regardless of how we really feel about it – takes a huge amount of pressure off. It takes our focus away from the unwanted situation and lets us move from “problem” mode – “I really don’t want this” – to “solution” mode – “This is what I do want.” Or, put another way, it moves us away from fighting / resisting whatever it is to looking for opportunities / solutions. And there are no prizes for guessing which one feels better and gets us moving in the direction we desire.
Focussing on “problems” only guarantees more of the same, whether that particular one or one of its many cousins (!). If you’re in any doubt, look at all the problems that have been focused on over the years, none of which have had the desired end result. Drugs, antisocial behaviour, poverty, the list goes on and on. And the results are always the same…
Whether you like it or not, you have to start from where you are right now – and that’s ok.
The only question is where you’d like to go from there.
Where are you going to set your internal sat nav for next?
As always, the choice is yours.
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