Inward Bound: Charting a Course by Your Inner Magnet

🎧 👉 Prefer audio? You can also listen to me share about this in podcast episode #105 here.

I’m so grateful you’re here to join me through the ups and downs of life. Although I’m here to be your guide, I’m also a fellow traveler on what can sometimes feel like a wild and wacky journey.

Today, we’re going to explore a powerful visual concept inspired by something I heard in a podcast interview with Jeff Lerner. 

Imagine a compass in your hand. This is the compass of your life. 

Now, ask yourself, where is the magnet that orients this compass? Is it deep within you, or is it somewhere outside of you?

The External Magnets

We often find ourselves looking outward for direction. We seek validation from others, from our careers, from material success, and even from social media. It’s as if the magnet for our compass exists in external approval, which is constantly shifting and difficult to pin down. 

There are so many challenges with this. When societal expectations and external validation influence our direction, we can find ourselves lost, disconnected from our true selves, and, honestly, downright exhausted from trying to chase a bunch of moving targets.

The Internal Magnet

Now, let’s shift our perspective. Imagine that the magnet for your compass is not outside of you but deep within your core. This magnet is your values, your passions, your inner wisdom, and the quiet voice that whispers your true north when all is still. It’s also connected with whatever spiritual beliefs you hold.

When we begin to listen to this inner magnet—that’s when the magic happens. Our steps become more deliberate, our path becomes clearer, and our journey becomes more authentic. We’re no longer seeking external approval because we are guided by a force that is uniquely ours, one that knows our heart’s true wishes and purpose.

Finding Your Magnet

So, how do we find this internal magnet? It starts with getting curious about yourself. The more you get to know your likes and dislikes, what makes you light up, and what drains you. Journal, meditate, spend time in nature—do whatever it takes to connect with your inner self.

And remember, this is not a one-and-done situation. Your internal magnet will shift as you grow and evolve—that’s how it’s supposed to be. Just do whatever you can to stay connected with yourself, check in regularly with yourself, and then adjust your course as needed.

The Journey Forward

As we move forward, join me in challenging yourself to lean more into your internal guidance. Trust that you have everything within you to navigate this beautiful and sometimes turbulent journey.

It may feel daunting at times, especially if external magnets have been pulling you along. But I know this to be absolutely true—the more you tune into your inner being, the more aligned your path will become in providing you with a sense of fulfillment and peace that external achievements really cannot provide.

So, as we wrap up today, I encourage you to hold that visual of the compass in your hand and be honest with yourself as you consider where the magnet you’re letting guide you is? Is it inside you or out there somewhere?

 “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.”

— Henry David Thoreau

🎧 👉 Prefer audio? You can also listen to me share about this in podcast episode #105 here.