Sheep Do Not Start Out Lost

Have you ever thought about how sheep get lost? Even with a shepherd, they still get lost. How does this happen? The one thing I know for sure is that they did not start out lost.

The issue for sheep is their ability to stay focused. They see a nice patch of grass and think, "Mmm, this looks nice, maybe I'll have a little taste." They finish the bit of grass and without looking up, they move and continue grazing. They nibble a little here, then a little there. They take a few steps and nibble a little more. Before they realize it, they are lost. Sheep made a series of small choices that led them away from the flock.

The same holds true for people. People don't start out lost, they end up lost. Throughout the course of our daily lives, temptations to nibble and move away from the flock are everywhere. Opportunities to get lost are around every corner. People end up like the sheep - lost.

It is easy to lose your sense of direction and fail to see where you are going. Then before you know it, you look up and ask yourself, "Where am I and how did I end up here?" How can you avoid being lost?

Keep focused on where you are going. Would you set out on a trip without knowing where you are headed? It is easy to get lost if you fail to establish a destination. Set priorities and goals for your life and keep them in focus. Look to these to help keep you on track. Use your priorities and goals as a map to ensure you are moving in the right direction.

Don't be greedy. Every patch of grass will appear more lush and better than you have ever tasted. For example, people often become lost when they covet the possessions of others; a bigger house, more expensive clothes or extravagant things. They overextend themselves trying to keep up with the Jones's. Before they know it, they are lost in a financial wilderness. Establish boundaries for yourself and know when to say when. Take stock every day of what you have and be thankful.

Be disciplined. Becoming lost is sometimes a daily occurrence with sheep. They lack the mental capacity to stay on track. They constantly need their shepherd to keep them from getting lost. For people it takes personal discipline. Everyday you will face opportunities to stay on track or stray from the path. Will you hold to your exercise commitment? Will you operate within your budget or will you overspend? Will you stay the course? Be disciplined and make wise choices.

Stay close to your shepherd. It is easy to become lost while following others. Putting your trust in the wrong people can lead you astray. Inappropriate relationships can blur your focus. On the other hand, you must nurture positive relationships. Surround yourself with family and friends that support you and hold you accountable. In the event that you do begin to become lost, ask someone you trust for directions.

Live with confidence. Becoming lost is easier when you lose confidence in yourself; when you doubt yourself and your abilities. You can "self-talk" yourself into difficult places. It is during these times that you will make poor decisions. Be confident and proud of yourself. When you are down, pick yourself up and make good decisions, even when they are not easy.

Getting lost usually is not the product of a single wrong turn, but a series of wrong turns. If you begin to get lost, make corrections as soon as you can. Do not be afraid to ask for directions and start to turn back. Do not let your pride get in the way of your better judgment. Don't be like sheep; make it a priority to stay focused, stay on track, be disciplined and live with confidence.

Copyright Anthony Mullins
Elite Coaching Alliance 2005

Anthony Mullins is the President and Life Coach for The Elite Coaching Alliance. He specializes in personal, leadership, marriage, relationship and family, christian based coaching. He is the author of the upcoming e-book "Finding Fulfillment in and Unfulfilling World". He can be contacted by phone at 770.587.3545 or by visiting his website http://www.elitecoachingalliance.com

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Coaching Information:

Related Articles

How to Tune In Your Brain & Feel Confident with People in Moments
One day when I was in school, many years ago, the school principal wandered into our class room, sat down and started to talk.He talked and talked; and there was nothing we could do to stop him seeing as how he was in charge!For once he actually said something that interested me and I never forgot what he said.
Recreating Yourself
So it's time for a change. You've taken that hard look in the mirror and you've decided that who you are is not who you want to be.
How to Forgive Another for Past Hurts
No one gets through life without being hurt by another person. We all have experienced the pain of a thoughtless remark, gossip, or lie.
The Student Who Knew Too Much
This article is for those of you who coach or mentor. Does this sound familiar? "Can't I just try to mail or email, do I really have to call" "I was thinking I could wait to get business cards" "I wanted to be successful first, before I start to market or network" "Why do I have to do it that way, I thought I could do it this way" I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Communicating with Case Studies
Not long ago, I made a partnership pitch, on behalf of an organization I represent, to another organization with similar interests. If the idea had come to fruition, it would have radically changed our organization.
Some Business Coaches are in Error
Many business coaches deny the power of suggestion while using it. For instance a corporate inner circle will be told that they have inner conflicts with ethical practice due to the stockholders coming first, the customers coming second and employees coming third.
Its Not What You Think
My work in organizations involves dropping habitual ways of perceiving in order to contact a fresh and subtle perceiving "under the surface" of what is going on. That deeper sense of perceiving allows the emergence of what I call the Engaging Leader, or the genuine expression of myself and the collective.
We Are the Five People We Associate with Most
Last month I was invited to participate in a charity golf tournament in Las Vegas to celebrate the life of the late dancing legend Gregory Hines. The event was held to raise funds and awareness of the tragic disease that took this entertainer's life.
7 Destructive Habits of Incompetent People
WARNING! If you want to have a fantastic life, never engage yourself in these 7 deadly habits that incompetent people do. NUMBER 1 - They Think, Say, & Do Negative Things.
4 Brilliant Tips to Speed Read Faster than Ever
Many people, particularly students, would love to beable to absorb information faster. But before retaininginformation, they have to go through the first stage oflearning, which is reading.
Budda In Your Back Pocket
The other day I was late for something. Not very late.
Who Do You Talk To?
Many of you reading this will be running businesses, or parts of, whether they are your own or not. This means that you have many things to deal with on a day to day basis plus trying to do the long-term thinking needed to lead and run the business.
Leading Grief Groups: The Preliminaries
Preparation: If you desire advertising the group, announcements need to go to the media at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the group. Most effective is either an article or listing under Grief/support groups in the local newspaper.
Mind the Gap
The underground train in London can get you anywhere when you know how to maneuver all the options. Like our subways, London under ground is a busy place.
How Do You Build Momentum in Your Business and Life?
A few weeks ago at a "Leadership from the Ground Up" conference, Donald Trump spoke about the ingredients for success. I found his topic on momentum very intriguing.
COACHING: When it's Beyond Oprah and Dr. Phil
How many more servings of the daytime self-help salad will it take to sooth your appetite? To actually get your life to where you want it to be? To actually start seeing changes for yourself rather than just on the tear-filled faces of Oprah's latest guests?How about the alternatives? If you stick with TV then you will likely wind up in frightening dead ends with the likes of Jerry, Ricky and Montel. So, you read a few more Chicken Soup books, listen to another Anthony Robbins seminar and double up on the appointments with your shrink.
Working With Choices
Despite our skills, experience or expertise we can still make a meal out of making a choice!Here are some common reasons why people struggle to make choices, and some tips for making them easier.1.
Forget Resolutions - Craft A Life Theme That Works
How many people do you know who, in January, enthusiastically name their resolution for the year yet somehow neglect to follow through with it a few weeks or months later? Forget making New Year's resolutions. They rarely work because they are often based on "shoulds" versus the bigger picture of your life.
Home For The Holidays
In my husband's family, family members send Christmas cards to other family members (parents to children, brothers and sisters to one another, etc.) even though the family always spends time together at Christmas for a meal and gift exchange.
Profitable Idea Generation in 4 Steps Using Improv
A large percentage of business are stuck, tied to narrow ways of thinking about themselves and their products. In the business environment you can't be stuck and survive.