Reflection: One of the most frequently referenced sources of advice about how to live your life is Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. ‘Start with the end in mind’ is one of those habits.

It’s a laser-beamed and focused approach that’s not without its challenges. Most notably you have to come up with the ‘end’ – the big idea or the grand life purpose – depending on the scale you’re working on. And, you risk overlooking opportunities of iinterest that lie closer at hand.

There’s another approach we could take as well – that of simply being more aware of our current state and the call or appeal of the opportunities that sit directly in front of us.

Those choices are echoed in author Stephen King’s observation that there are two ways to write a book. You either start with your outcome in mind and write in that direction, or you come up with a situation that has tension and see where your imagination takes you. You let the characters respond and the plot unfold.

Action: Well, I’d say most of us have a bit of tension in our lives – things that are calling for our attention, or drawing us in their direction. Perhaps it’s an inner voice that is directing us to a little more of this … a little less of that.

What if we just start with and work with the elements that are at hand, and see what happens – without pressuring ourselves to have it all figured out ahead of time?

How might that ease your daily experience? And what more might you notice along the way?

Quotes Of The Week: Life is all about not knowing, and then doing something anyway. – Mark Manson

Sometimes all that’s needed is a sense of possibility. – Rachel Remen

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. Vincent Van Gogh

Resource Of The Week: A couple of months ago, when I was inviting your stories about how you rekindled a spark in your life, I gave away a copy of the book, Life Reimagined by Richard Leider. If you are in a reimagining frame of mind, it’s a publication you you might find helpful.

Here’s a link to an article, The Secret To Living Right, that gives an overview of the approach you’ll find in his book.

Readers Write: In response to last week’s message, Move It Out & Move Along, Pause reader DC writes: When I recently moved on, and left the Business and Professional Women’s Group, I took about 40 of my motivational and business books to my last meeting. I set up a table for the members to take any books they might find useful. It felt good to let go of those books and even better to know that others would benefit from the reading.

As well, I took the bulk of my business wear to a meeting where they were collecting those items for women re-entering the work force who needed outfits for interviews and work. It felt absolutely wonderful. Again, lightened my load and benefited others in the process!