Picture yourself driving down the road while enjoying a beautiful day. You have been waiting all week for the time to get away and the weather fully cooperated with you. It could not be more perfect. Unfortunately, your beautiful ride on a beautiful day has ended up with you in a ditch. Now instead of enjoying a wonderful day you have to call a tow truck to pull your car out and drive it to the collision center to examine the vehicle for damages.
When you speak to the technician he explains to you that the problem was your vehicle has been out of alignment for some time to the point where you had no control. He mentioned the body damage that occurred and expense it would be to get the car repaired from going into the ditch. He went on to say that had you gotten the vehicle aligned when it first began pulling to the right it might cost to $100. Now, you might say that is a bad example or it might be extreme, but is it really?
So often my life has resembled the scenario I just played out. I think everything is fine and I’m going through life as if I don’t have a care in the world and the next thing you know I’m in an emotional tailspin left wondering how it got there. Very few things in life happen in a vacuum. Most of life’s challenges have occurred because I either did not pay attention for the areas needing maintenance or I neglected the indicators that were apparent. I would say things like “I’ll take care of it later” or “now is not a good time.” I was setting myself up for present failure and/or future challenges.
Using the metaphor of a “ride” for life’s journey, I must be as aligned as I would be in my vehicle. Matter of fact, I think it is more important for me to make sure my personal life is in alignment than that of my vehicle. I can do a lot more damage personally then I can do in my vehicle. I am always driving in my life but only occasionally driving in my vehicle. When not properly aligned, I open myself up to opportunities that can spoil the ride.
When I consider personal alignment, I must consider the four dimensions of my life. As a person, I am made up of physical, emotional, mental and the spiritual. As I have four tires on my vehicle I have four areas of life that need attention. Not having all four tires aligned simultaneously causes uneven wear are on the other tires. The same is true in my four personal dimensions. If I tend to diminish the importance of any one of those dimensions, or negate it all together, I stand a very serious chance of ending up in one of life’s ditches wondering how I got there. Unlike in my vehicle, I am never alone in life. Someone else is always directly or indirectly affected by my lack of alignment. Getting and remaining aligned is so simple everyone can do it. It isn’t always easy, but it is always simple.
5 things to be assured you are “Aligned for the Ride”
- Be open and honest to oneself daily
- Have accountability friends who speak truth in your life
- Make minor adjustments as needed
- Ask others how you are doing
- Fully believe that the healthiest people understand the value of being aligned in the 4 dimensions of life
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog. I hope it has helped you as it has served as a reminder for me. Please feel free to reach at any time for anything.
Robert Pardon
Robert is the Recovery Guy. Getting clean and sober on April 25, 1986 has given me the insight and practical skill set to not only stay sober, but to also re-invent myself to the person I always wanted to become. Showing others how to do this is my life goal.
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