Handrailing
Or- Avoiding the poverty of a hovel and the envy of a palace
Think.
Last week I talked about the necessity of ‘swinging your compass’ to adjust for magnetic interference. In our lives, this equates to occasionally rechecking our personal ethos to ensure that the things we say are important to us are still the things we are focused on.
We should expect the things we value to change over time. When we are younger, we may value achievement; over time that may turn into stability. We may shift from valuing authority to valuing respect. The change isn’t a bad thing. Not being aware of the change is.
Our values are not the guiding constellation I have talked about. They are not where we are going, but rather how we are willing to travel to get there.
In the military when conducting a land navigation exercise, it is helpful to establish a handrail.
Handrailing is using a linear ‘limiting feature’ on the map to keep from getting off course.
On the map above, as long as I keep the powerlines on my left as I move from the red triangle toward the red circle, I can be sure that I am headed to the objective. This allows me to move relatively quickly while staying off of the firebreak where I could be more easily observed.
By establishing the set of values that comprise your ethos, accurately defining what they mean to you, and how you will use them in your everyday life, you can more easily recognize when you are approaching your handrails before you cross over them.
If you have selected Honesty, Trust, or Integrity as values, and clearly defined what that handrail looks like to you, you will easily recognize when you are approaching it. You may not be able to take the easiest route to your objective, but it will be one that is in keeping with the person you are working to become.
Read. The Progress Theory
by Dr. Phil Price
Write.
Last week I asked you to select 3-5 values from the list I provided, or from your own list. This week define them. You can certainly reference the dictionary, but it is more important for you to develop your own definition that specifies what the value means to you, and how you will apply it as a handrail in your life.
Let me know how it goes.
Repeat.
Words of wisdom from those who said it best.
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.”
― Maya Angelou
Oh, By the way. I now have a YouTube Channel where I post a Sunday morning Ruck Rant that you might enjoy. Check it out here:
If you enjoyed this week’s T.R.W.R., please consider sharing it with a friend. Personal recommendations are one of the best ways for me to grow my audience and help others get better at getting better. Thanks!
See you next Thursday!
I love the idea of a "golden mean". That's brilliant. I always pickup something new from your articles to apply to my life. Thanks, John!