Decide: To run towards the best

Running from and running to. There are times in life when we do both. The tension sits with why. A good example would be running from danger and running to safety. Sometimes the context of these and how you apply them is determined by timing and reasoning.

I have done some work on the Island of Tanna in Vanuatu. The locals I was working with recommended that I visit the active volcano “Mt Yasur”. They also recommended that I go at dusk so I could see it on approach and experience its spectacular volcanic display at night. This was in the day when there were no guided tours other than the locals that you went with. The idea of this dangerous adventure excited me and scared me at the same time. But it was on my bucket list as one of the things to do, so I had to go. The experience was exhilarating and terrifying. There were times in the dark of night, as the ground shook and the rocks of molten lava exploded in front of me that made me question, had I made the right decision? Even coming down with just a head lamp and no orientation other than the blast of the volcano left me with questions. After the experience I thought about, what I was fearing? The answer for me was, it was the unknown.

“Are you running from something you should be running to?”

Often in life we run away from things instead of to them, simply because we fear the unknown. These fears can translate in a number of ways and most likely, have been birthed in us from past experiences. We can deceive ourselves into the idea that running away from things is the easiest action, when it might not always be the best action. Figuratively speaking, running from instead of running to is the desire to avoid situations we should face.

How can we be clear if we should be running towards something even though everything says we should run away from it?

Have a compelling reason why. Does your why align with your:

·       Purpose

·       Mission

·       Values

·       Strengths

Be more logical rather than emotional in your decision to run towards something.

·       For some there may be default emotional responses that have been established through past experiences. These can be restricting in letting us move forward.

·       Think about how this will help you to be better in helping others.

Seek advice from people who may have faced a similar situation.

·       Other people’s experiences are valuable in helping us navigate our own, especially in the area of the unknown.

 My 5 Learnings:

·       Running away can be an embedded response from past experiences

·       Just because something is unknown to me, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t run towards it

·       I need to be clear why I am running towards something

·       Be aware of my limitations and emotional responses

·       Look to people who have had similar experiences that I can learn from

The above things to think about to decide if we should run to something, also need to be applied when we are deciding to run from something.   

My 3 Questions for you:

·       When have you felt like running away from something that you should have run to?

·       Do you understand your emotional limitations?

·       Do you fear the unknown?

“We do not fear the unknown. We fear what we project onto the unknown.”

Teal Swan

If you need help with facing the unknown, or if you have questions, please talk to me. I would be happy to chat with you and help.

Remember daily to, “Find value in your influence”

Written By: Paul Fawcett.