Navigating the Winds of Life

The effect of sailing is produced by a judicious arrangement of the sails to the direction of the wind.” – William Falconer

Adjusting Sails

In sailing, a basic technique called changing the tack or coming about is applied when the wind changes direction. Tacking involves adjusting the sails slightly and often to improve maneuverability when the wind changes direction. Tacking keeps the boat moving to the intended destination. The same applies to life when we encounter the winds of life that aim to keep us from reaching our goals.

Winds and Life

In life, just like at sea we experience winds. Sometimes, we experience tailwinds. This occurs when the wind is behind our back and things work in our favor. Headwinds, refer to the adversities we experience in life. This may come from a variety of sources but the aim is to stall our progress. Headwinds in life can be so strong, tempting us to return to the shores of what was safe and comfortable. Whether emotional, relational, social, or economical, they can have an effect on reaching our destination, if we permit them. Jim Rohn said, “It’s not the blowing of the winds that determine our destination but the set of the sails.” In learning to adjust our sails, we will discover that the winds can propel us forward instead of backwards or stalling us out.

Headwinds in life can be so strong, tempting us to return to the shores of what was safe and comfortable.

Living with the Winds

How do we maintain our resolve when we face the winds or adversities of life? First, stay tuned in to your purpose. Don’t be distracted by the severity of the wind. Don’t let the shift of wind cause myopia. Remind yourself of your destiny. Review your itinerary often. Winds are meant to destabilize and topple us, but your focus will keep you emotionally and mentally steady. Second, view the wind as a friend not an enemy. Sometimes, we fear what has a way of making us better, because it shows up in a package we don’t expect.

Lewis Howes, best-selling author of The School of Greatness had hopes of success as a professional player in the NFL. But the winds shifted and he ended up with a broken wrist at the height of the 2008 recession. Financially broke and down on his luck, he ended up living with his sister and sleeping on her couch. He still believed he could be successful. He adjusted his sails. He began doing webinars on LinkedIn, which took off. Eventually, he started writing books (becoming a best-selling author). Currently, he is on the U.S. men’s handball Olympic team and has one of the highest rated podcasts, “School of Greatness.” By living through the winds, he pivoted, stayed afloat, and is living out his destiny by making a positive impact.

This Month

This month, we will look at three statements we need to keep at the forefront of our minds in order to adjust our sails and navigate the winds of life. In addition to today, here are the topics we will cover:

Remember who you are (February 8)

Recognize where you are (February 15)

Reflect on what you are aiming for (February 22)

Throwback Thursday (February 29)

Final Thought: Life is full of winds. We can learn to live with them by adjusting our sails and focusing on the three statements above. In doing so, we will not only go the distance this year but also realize some goals we never thought possible.

Keep on keeping on!