Step 5: How to see the path from here to where you want to be
Art Credits: The Path by the River, Maidenhead (1919), Sir John Lavery (Irish, 1856-1941) Artvee.com
Leading with Steady Action in 2025
3 minute read
If this is your first time reading, welcome! This is simply a regular communication from me about a topic that demystifies leadership and personal development. Regular readers, thank you for reading!
We’re halfway through the year and by now, we've seen our motivation to change come and go. The excitement of new beginnings fades, and the finish line can feel far off. If you’re wondering, How do I keep going?, or Should I stop?, you’re not alone.
Last month, we discussed how to utilize your strengths at the right time, like playing chords on a piano. This month, we’ll move on to step 5: how to see the path from here to where you want to be.
Recall where we’ve come from in newsletters this year:
Step 1: Choose an area of your life to develop
Step 2: Prepare a “workspace” for this development project
Step 3: Connect to your values to find motivation for your project
Step 4: Use your strengths at the right time
How to see the path from here to where you want to be
To get from here to there, you'll need to know where you're going.
If you don't know where you're going, try staying put until you feel connected to your self and get your bearings. Then notice where you are being pulled and make a small move simply to turn in the direction you want to go.
Once you know where you're going and are turned in that direction, wait, cut out the noise (again), and listen inside for the next step.
Moving toward a goal works best when our three "centers of intelligence" are in alignment. These are our heart, head, and body. More on that later.
Where am I coming up with this stuff? Last weekend, I attended a conference and was reminded of the power of "attunement." I went to a parenting workshop about attuning to your child. The magic is that, to attune to other's needs, we simply attune to our own selves and this attunement opens us up to a wider field of awareness. Simple and complex. But I did want to throw it out there because the impact of attunement is profound. The work is in remembering who we are, truly, and letting go of the other noise.
If you prefer to have a more concrete analogy or image to work with, give this a try:
Imagine the path to your goal as a cross-country road trip. You choose where you're going, consider the routes, and pick one. That's what we're talking about. The map with the route is a great resource. Not saying you won't run up against some road construction or other road blocks. In fact, you will. But let's keep it simple at this stage. Next month, we'll talk about handling obstacles that arise on your path.
Below are two tools to help you with your route. The first is a good one when your options aren't clear. The second is a good one when your options are clear and you are ready to pick a route.
Tool: powerful questions
Try asking a powerful question to help you uncover the next step. Instead of asking “How will I get there?”, a question that can feel overwhelming, try asking, “Where am I going?” This small shift keeps your momentum grounded in action. See what is revealed. Perhaps your next right step comes from this question. Try this as a meditation or journaling activity in a quiet, still, solitary space.
Tool: shaping your route
Step 1
Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Circle back to your goal you had in mind. Write it down. This will be your “destination”.
Step 2
Next, write down everything you think you need to get done in order to achieve this goal. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Make it messy on purpose. Think of this like a brain dump.
Step 3
Look at your list and sort your tasks into “stages” of the journey. What needs to come first, and what can wait? Try grouping tasks into 3-4 phases, like legs of a road trip. You might call these phases something creative, like “Packing,” “Starting the Engine,” “The Long Middle,” and “Final Stretch.”
Step 4 (if you're ready for more)
For each phase, ask yourself:
What strengths will help me most in this stage?
What support might I need from people, tools, and resources?
How will I know I’m making progress?
Optional: Draw your journey as a visual map. Use shapes, colors, arrows, or images. Don’t worry about artistic skill, just try to capture the feeling of your path. What terrain are you crossing? What kind of vehicle are you in? Add creative metaphors to bring it to life.
Want help finding your path?
A leadership tip
When you're deep in the journey toward a goal, it’s easy to lose your sense of direction. One steady practice you can try is to write down small wins as you go, such as a kind comment you received, a task completed, or a moment where you were really courageous. Like breadcrumbs, these little markers can guide you back to clarity when you get lost.
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Thank you for reading!
As a reminder, next month's topic is how to find your way past the inner and outer obstacles. What specific things can support you to step over obstacles?
Lindsay Read Coaching, LLC
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