True North: Our Inner Compas

The needs of the soul are fundamental. You cannot sa sfy this with pleasures, with hobbies or
distrac ons, with entertainment, with romance, with sexuality, with intoxica on. For the need of
the soul is for you to recognize, to experience and to express a greater purpose in life and to
adopt the life and the associa ons that will make this discovery and expression possible.
Nothing else will sa sfy the deeper need of the soul. – Journey To A New Life

Finding True North

Among all the a rac ons in life, what keeps us on track to follow a deeper calling than self-
indulgence and to derive greater meaning from life than mere ego sa sfac on? Are humans
capable of nding and following “true North,” to be steered to meet their des ny as individuals,
to be coordinated with the great a rac on that calls us home to God?

True North and Magne c North

In some ways, animals seem wiser than humans. When a tsunami threatens, the animals seek
higher ground while humans stand on the shore with mouths agape, in amazement at the
massive withdrawal of the sea before it crashes on return. We have some idea what cues the
annual migra on in the birds, sh and other creatures. We use handheld devices to nd
direc on, like a compass that is based on the magne c force of the poles; most of the me, it
ma ers li le the di erence between true North and magne c North as we plot our direc on.

True North: Not Just an Imaginary Point to Plot

We humans have an inner compass, too. We are being steered by an innate drive to move
through the seasons of our life to a des na on–our metaphorical “True North”–that pulls us
like a magnet. We are hardly more conscious of this pull than are animals, though it is our
distrac ons and habits that obscure the inner guidance and make it harder to discern. We feel it
as a restlessness when we need to move on, a feeling of something calling, a sense of needing
to be somewhere, of people whom we seek.

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 “You are always preparing for the future even if you do not think of the future. You are always
preparing for the future even if your mind is focused upon the past. This is because your life
builds upon itself. What you experience today is based upon what you accomplished or did not
accomplish yesterday. And what you will experience tomorrow will be par ally built on what you
can accomplish today. Your life is built upon the founda on of the past, and you are building the
founda on for the future at this moment. This is true within your life and within all life.

As you learn to become present each day, you become more aware that you are building a
founda on for tomorrow, for yourself and for others. Here your focus is on the present and on
the future. You only draw upon the past for demonstra ons and examples, for you have seen
and heard much that you have not yet been able to use. The past now becomes a resource as
you build the present and the future. Before this happens, the past is your focus, and the present
is only bonded to the past.”
—Preparing for the Future

Deep within you there is a sacred Mind, a Mind created by God, a Mind We call Knowledge, a
Mind that is connected already to the Great Coordina on.

This sacred Mind called Knowledge is our connec on to God, that magne c pull towards the
most ancient loca on ever, our true home in God. Perhaps the Great Coordina on is like the
collec ve wisdom seen in animal species whose less ar culate minds unite in single purpose.

In a world that will beat us down, blur our vision and send us a mul tude of nega ve messages,
we all need to nd True North. We all need that one true voice telling us who we really are and
where the path really is.

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 True North
For thousands of years, ships would rely on the North Star to navigate their ways through the
darkness of night and across the roughest of seas. The North Star stays true in the sky, while
the other stars seem to move around it. It is the North Star that we can rely on and trust. We
ourselves are like sailors, traversing through some mes rough and di cult seas. Throughout
our journey, we too need a compass to direct us along our way. Our True North is the
innermost desire of our soul. It is the calling of our spirit, and the wisdom of the heart.
Listening for these inner messages and heeding their call will keep us ever steady on our path
towards ful llment, joy, and even safety.

"Our North Star shines brighter than ever before."Essen ally, following our own North Star is
our way back home. This week, our North Star shines brighter than ever before. It is our soul
asking us to hear it and to follow it home.

At any moment, if we can silence ourselves and the noise around us just enough, we will hear
the wisdom of our inner voice, and our heart’s longing for truth. It is always a choice to head
towards our True North. It is then that we can begin to sail smoother waters.

"Each one of us can begin a new life and be des ned for greatness.”

It is temp ng to become lost at sea, to follow the many paths that may lead to nowhere, or to
dri through life with no direc on. This is how we nd ourselves in troubled waters. Thankfully,
the Light is always there, shining bright like the North Star, guiding us back. Some mes we only
need to be open to hearing new ideas, new paths, and most importantly that quiet voice within.

The waters of life, I know, can be rough and frightening, but I also know that with the help of
the Creator, each one of us, if we wish, can go within and hear what we need to do next. Each
one of us can begin a new life and be des ned for greatness.

The sea is wide and the choices are many, but the Creator is always there shining and calling you
home to calm waters — calling you back to be with Him.

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 Within you is a core of truth by which you may nd your way in life. For most of us accessing it
is kind of hit or miss but you can develop the skills to live guided by your own inner compass. It
is a process well worth undergoing.

Making me to be s ll and pay a en on is essen al. Si ng in nature and le ng your senses

awaken is a great way to learn. One by one let each sense come alive. Start by feeling the
impact of wind, sun, and temperature on your skin and every part of you. Then open your ears
and pay a en on to the most obvious sounds. Gradually let your hearing become more and
more sensi ve un l you hear the amazing variety of sounds in nature. Do the same with your
senses of smell and then vision. Then try to be open with all your senses at once. When you
get good at that, prac ce it while walking. Walking with all your senses open will help you relax
into your heart, belly and root rather than being up in your head. That will prepare you to be
able to stay in your body while working spiritually. This is an important skill which many intui ve
people don’t know about; being centered in your body while working spiritually helps you to
receive intui ve informa on that is speci c to your needs.

Once you learn to be quiet and aware in the outer sense you will be ready to listen quietly
within your own body and soul. Finding and following your inner guidance is essen al for your
soul to reach enlightenment. It will take prac ce to dis nguish between your mental voice and
your deeper true north, but as you get be er at doing it, you’ll nd that you can trust your inner
wisdom.

Trus ng your inner wisdom you will ul mately learn to trust God. Trus ng God, you learn to let
go of worry, stress and fear more quickly and they’ll have less control. You’ll come to know that
you have exactly what is needed to take each step along the way. Even when you can’t see
where a step is leading, you know that you just have to follow the inner guidance one step at a
me and ul mately it will all make sense.

Life is full of challenges and pi alls, but it is also rich with pleasure and meaning when you trust
your inner wisdom (which is God within you). Your inner wisdom is your best friend and
wherever you are, there is always a true north. Prac ce following your inner wisdom in all
ma ers of life, even the most mundane. Then when the stakes are high, you will have the trust
and skill to nd your truth there as well.

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 Enjoy your journey, and always take your inner compass!

Discover Your True North

For any leader at any level in any organiza on, clarity of purpose is a cri cal
ingredient of success. In other words, you must know where you’re headed and
why you’re headed there.

A compass provides the ideal metaphor. Just as a compass points toward a

magne c eld, your personal “true north” directs your path and pulls you
forward.

That’s the thesis of Discover Your True North by Bill George.

George is so much more than a mere theorist. He’s been in the trenches and understands the
nuances of leadership prac ces. He started his career in the U.S. Department of Defense, then
served in senior execu ve posi ons at Honeywell and Li on Industries. George was later
president and chairman at Medtronic, one of the world’s largest medical equipment and
development companies. He’s served on boards at ExxonMobile, Novar s, Target, and the Mayo
Clinic. Today he teaches leadership at the Harvard Business School.A Purpose Driven Life

The 7 Habits of Highly E ec ve People provides powerful and meless lessons. They result in a
new level of principle-based thinking. Consequently. principle-based thinking changes our
paradigms, character, and mo ves from within.

The changes uncover your purpose in life, your true north, the authen c you. And, that is an
inspiring and engaging mission. You go from making a living to making a purpose-driven life.

There is nothing more mo va ng from within than a purpose-driven life.

There is an old story that illustrates this well. A pilgrim went to the construc on site for what
would become a Cathedral and asked the stonecu ers what they were doing.

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 One tersely replied, “squaring this stone.” Another answered with some pride, “Squaring this
stone to build a strong wall for a church.” And the third, with joy in his heart, said with a smile,
“Building a great cathedral to honor the glory of God!”

What stonecu er do you want to be?

It’s A Choice
In We Are Our Choices, Je Bezos, a successful entrepreneur and businessman cau ons us to
make the correct choices in life.

Prac cing “The 7 Habits of Highly E ec ve People” is a choice for a principled center life. And,
one of the most important choices you can make.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

– Will Durant, philosopher

“Because [habits] are consistent, o en unconscious pa erns, they constantly, daily, express our
character and produce our e ec veness or
ine ec veness.” – Stephen Covey

The choice of working through The 7 Habits starts with one baby step. But, it may be one of the
most important choices of your life.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, author, lecturer, championed individual ac on over society’s pressure
summed it up well: “Sow a thought, reap an ac on; sow an ac on, reap a habit; sow a habit,
reap a character; sow a character, reap a des ny.”

What We Learned

1. Highly e ec ve people live a principle-centered life.

2. Covey dis lled those principles in “The 7 Habits.”

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 3. The 7 Habits take us sequen ally from dependence to independence to

interdependence.

4. These powerful and meless lessons also help us uncover our true north and purpose.

5. There is nothing more mo va ng than a purpose-driven life.

6. And it is an essen al choice you should consider.

Are you ready to start? Let’s start with the rst habit, “Be Proactive,” in the next article

The Authen c You

Dr. Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly E ec ve People” sold over twenty- ve million
copies to those wishing to become more e ec ve in their personal lives and at work. He
explains seven habits shared by highly e ec ve people. And, the habits work because prac cing
them encourage us to discover “the authen c you.”

The rst three habits are “personal” victories needed to align you with what Covey calls your
“true north.” True north is self-mastery, empowering yourself to write your own script, rather
than the ones others write for you. These personal victories then posi on you to take on the
four remaining “public” habits that deal with interpersonal rela onships.

The 7 Habits combined create an endurable approach to life designed by you and for you.

A personal loss or a major setback are obvious problems in people’s lives. But, what if you
experience a problem you can’t even iden fy? As an example what if you have an empty feeling
inside that just won’t go away? Even when on the surface it appears to others you have every
reason to be happy.

Covey’s Seven Habits help us nd our true north, become e ec ve, so we can write our own
story. Sadly many just live the script others prescribe for them whether it ts or not. His
approach works because it shows you how to rst discover and then honor the authen c you.
And when you do that you begin to experience a happy life, and happy lives are endurable.

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 In Covey’s Seven Habits we learn why the self-help quick xes don’t work. And, it o ers an
alterna ve that has worked for centuries. It worked for me, and millions of others, and it can
work for you.

The Great Coordina on.

Beyond what your senses can report, what your eyes can see and your ears can hear, there is a
Greater Coordina on in the world and in the universe at large—a Great Coordina on, the Work
of God in the universe, working through layers of servants and representa ves.

It is something you must feel, deeply—this Presence, and this abiding sense that your life is
really for something greater than what you have become accustomed to and what your culture
promotes within you and you have come to believe. A Greater Coordina on that has brought
you into the world for a higher purpose, a greater coordina on that you cannot de ne and you
can never fully understand, for it extends far beyond this world into countless worlds in the
universe. So great it is that no theology could contain it, no human understanding could grasp
its expanse, its complexity and its perfect func onality.

For you live two lives. You live a life in the mundane world that preoccupies you 99 percent of
the me, and you live as part of this Greater Coordina on, which you may glimpse for moments
here and there—moments of clarity, perhaps even moments of great sobriety, where you
reconsider your life from a more objec ve perspec ve.

But the Coordina on lives within you at a deeper level, beneath the surface of your mind,
beneath your social mind, your worldly mind that has been so condi oned and shaped by your
experiences in the world and by the decisions and conclusions you have made for yourself.

Deep within you there is a sacred Mind—a Mind created by God, a Mind We call Knowledge, a
Mind that is connected already to the Great Coordina on. For Knowledge represents your
connec on to God, but it also represents your purpose for being here, a purpose you have not
invented for yourself, a purpose that you do not yet understand. Even if you have a very
spiritually oriented understanding, it is something greater than this.

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 For Knowledge represents the part of you that is eternal, but it is here on a mission, you see. It
has a greater purpose for being in the world, which represents your greater purpose. Beyond all
your goals and plans, or what you think life requires of you, this greater purpose, this Greater
Coordina on, lives within you.
While you seek union in rela onships, so hopelessly; while you seek to ful ll yourself in the
world, so hopelessly; while you seek to meet the deeper need of your soul by acquiring things,
people, places, possessions, everything, or keeping yourself s mulated at all mes, what will
really sa sfy you and ful ll you and return you to your true rela onships in the universe is the
Greater Coordina on itself.

It will always be mysterious, for you can only grasp your small part of it and how it might relate
to certain important people you may be fortunate enough to meet in your journey here on
Earth.

God does not have to run your life. God does not have to run the world. For all of the biological
and geological forces were set in mo on at the beginning of me, everywhere. It is all running
itself now, so do not think that God is crea ng the calami es or the events of your day. That is a
foolish, ignorant error and will only lead you into greater confusion and misunderstanding.

You are preoccupied with yourselves, with your needs, your issues, your fears, your desires,
your predicaments. And this keeps you from experiencing the power of the Greater
Coordina on within your life. And indeed you cannot simply believe it is going to take care of
everything for you as if you are a witless person who must be directed in all things, for this will
hardly be the case.
You must become strong and determined, competent and responsible in all things, or the
Greater Coordina on will remain in the background, and your haphazard life will con nue
regardless of your beliefs and assump ons.

The gi before you now is the Gi , but it confronts you with your own ambivalence, your fear,
your uncertainty, your grievances, your unforgiveness, your contempt for others and possibly
your contempt for yourself. All these things must be cleared away as you proceed. And God has
given you the Power to enable you to do this, for on your own you could not do this.

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 But you must do the work to open the way, to take the Steps, to engage with this greater
process of reclama on within yourself.

The prayer for you is: Let me be of service so that I may give. For in the end, it is all about simple
service. No ma er how di cult the journey, no ma er how great the mountain is you must
walk up, in the end it is all to assume a role that is yours to assume and to play your small but
essen al part in this Greater Coordina on.

Your heart will know if you can follow this. Deeper within you, there are greater powers and
forces at work. This is what you must discover. This is the great challenge and meaning of your
life.

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