A compass helps you find your way if you happen to find yourself lost in the wilderness. Thanks to the magical magnetic pull, you will always know which way is proper north so that you can right yourself and find civilization.

Outdoor tip #1, ‘Don’t go out into the woods without your trusted compass.’

Now I am not a super religious individual. I have attended different churches on occasion and have always tried to live by the words I heard consistently as a child. ‘Treat others the way you would like to be treated.’ Due to this, I have learned that we, as humans, have what’s called a moral compass. A gift that is given to us all from the moment we take our first breath. Now there are some who actively ignore this inner guide. While others cannot deny its magnetic pull toward truthfulness.

Morals are your road map to help guide you through the right and wrong of this life based on past experiences. Hey question, does anyone know which Isle the moral compass is in at the sporting goods store?

I’ve got a few people who need a gift…

As a coach, I could watch athletes set goals and crush them in the same season. The moment they light up with excitement as they achieve a long-sought-after goal brings a sense of pride and accomplishment for helping to support them on their journey. Due to my love of people and for helping others succeed, I have had the pleasure of watching a lot of these moments happen firsthand. Watching others reach their full potential is pretty incredible.

I have gotten to know all sorts of people in this life so far, Saints, sinners, and so many in between. No one is perfect, and no one should strive to become perfect.

It is unattainable.

We all will inevitably make mistakes. We will lose our way, fall, and struggle to recover. What defines us in those moments? What shows our true character, is that some will either choose to right those wrongs or choose the easy way out and continue in the darkness.

For those who hit rock bottom and find their way back to the light, the work of betterment is never over. To actively make choices to become a better version of who they might want to become. The creation of a moral compass is reborn, and each day is an opportunity for them to live a much better life.

Those who don’t want to put in the work, are lost. Many without a direction, and destined to continue wandering in the wilderness. They will struggle with each interaction. Never fully regaining their sense of purpose and always searching for the next best thing.

If you haven’t taken the time to enjoy therapy, here is a free session with tips on finding your way back through the dark times.

Dependability.

How many of us can say we have people we can call on through thick and thin? If you do, you should consider yourself very lucky.

Most people these days are extraordinarily self-reliant and only think of themselves when it comes to being someone they can truly count on. For those who haven’t heard of the word dependability, it means that people can rely on you and that you will keep promises that you make to others. I had always thought that dependability and being family meant that being blood came with a responsibility to be dependable for those who you shared DNA with. That was a lie.

One I lived under for far too long. Pay attention to the character of those around you. Don’t allow yourself to be naive. Set boundaries, put yourself out there, and be there for those you care about without hesitation or Quid pro quo. Take the time to work on yourself and become the best version of yourself at any moment.

Loyalty.

In this day and age, it seems this word has been removed from the dictionary. People duck out of relationships or responsibility when they hit a rough patch. When things get hard, they lose interest and blot—jumping from relationship to relationship in search of something better.

Spoiler alert, they will never find what they desperately seek—the ability to be loyal starts from within.

You must know you are worthy of kindness, attention, and time from another to give those things without hesitation. Loyal people are standing by promises that are made, willing to weather any storm that may come due to unconditional love, understanding, and commitment.

Where are the people willing to put in the work and grow with another individual regardless of the ups and downs of life?

The people searching for a deep connection with another person?

I am starting to understand those who willingly take solace in the middle of the woods, throwing out the compass, and rejecting civilization as it currently exists. These are the happiest of individuals.

Honesty.

Living by one’s truth is never easy. Remembering to not willfully or willingly misinform or mislead people for your gain can be hard to stand by. Lying is like a spider web. All the many twists and turns may look beautiful to others, but as a fly, once you get stuck, there is no way out. Being honest can come at a cost. People will shun you for not following along with the facade and will try to blame you for anything that goes wrong. Stand firm in your truth.

Honesty doesn’t make you famous, but it will always lead you to the right side of any situation.

A few ways to guarantee this are by permitting yourself to be humble and happy with what the universe has already given you. Have confidence in what the universe will provide for you in the future, and trust something bigger than yourself. Always work hard for the things you want, and remember to be realistic that materialistic needs won’t necessarily bring you true happiness.

Good judgment.

Having good judgment starts with remembering what is right and wrong behavior. Are parents still teaching right from wrong anymore? The state of today’s youth proves that parents seem to have forgotten a step in the process. Why are parents so worried about being their children’s friends and not their parents? As parents, it is our job to guide and teach the younger generation how to adequately navigate the life experience ahead of them. Yet, some seem so wrapped up in making their children happy.

Children must always be given the ability to fail while they are young. They need to be allowed to think for themselves and form their own ideas and opinions. With the proper love and guidance, this is how they learn to survive in dark times. Suppose you didn’t grow up with rules that had to be followed, and there were no consequences when you messed up. Can you imagine how hard it would be when you are forced to live by rules that have life altering consequences?

This moral compass is an inner voice that helps us with our judgment. That uneasy feeling you get in your stomach, those sweaty palms, those ‘should I or shouldn’t I’ internal conflicts. Those are your brain’s way of alerting you to better judgment situations. People are not inherently evil; life events and maltreatment from others cause them to choose darkness.

Respect.

Treating others how we would like to be treated while asking for that exact treatment in return can be difficult. It starts with accepting others for who they are as a whole person. We are not all created to be the same, and yet we tend to surround ourselves with people who only think and feel the way we do.

“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.”

– Albert Einstein

As humans, there are things we all do that are similar. We all need nourishment, connection, and a sense of purpose. With these similarities there also come significant differences, many of which are beyond even our control. Try to remember that everyone has a heart beating in their chest. The same heart that beats while longing for approval, acceptance, and love.

Trust

Trust is an emotion, and this emotion is conquered when you look within yourself. Trusting oneself and overcoming life’s wealth of diversities has to happen before you can truly trust another person. Trust is built slowly, and for those who have been burned, it can take a long time for that foundation to be completed. If by chance you have been mistreated, give yourself grace in knowing that not all humans are created equal. You will find genuine people who will never intentionally hurt you. You can be open and there are others who will treat you with the utmost of care.

So what does all this mean…?

Living a life that positively

impacts those you encounter is not easy. There will be times when you are met with unsurmountable diversity and pain. Use your compass. Choosing to find the good in those moments and others is a skill that must be practiced. Use your compass. You must learn the art and act of forgiveness ( blog post coming soon). I’m not saying we all have to be perfect. That is entirely not possible. But, if we all consciously choose the correct behavior for each interaction, we will undoubtedly set a good example for those around us. Little eyes are always watching.

There will be bad days. Days when you don’t see the value in taking out your compass and allowing it to guide you. Days when walking away from civilization and into the wilderness sounds more appealing. Resist, at least for now.

“The truth shall make you free”

John 8:32

-lead with kindness, and everything else will fall into place.