Can you be a passenger?

Where do you want to be in 5 years?

Did you just cringe after hearing that question?

Yeah. Me too.

It’s one of those questions that always makes you feel like you’re behind. That if you don’t know where you’re at, then you’re not “doing well”.

Society has tricked us into believing that you should always know where you’re heading. That you should always know exactly how fast the car is going and how you’ll get there. That you should be the one driving the car at all times.

You hear this when people talk about having “SMART Goals” and making forecasts. The assumption there is that: You must be in control.

But what if that assumption is flawed? What if Life could drive the car better than you? What if being a passenger is actually better than driving the car?

Think about it.

When you’re not driving, you get to look outside the window. You get to feel the wind ruffle your hair. You get to smell the fresh ocean air and taste the saltwater. You get to fully be present.

The problem with being the one driving the car, is that you end up missing the entire journey. You’re fully focused on the road and so you miss the beauty along the way.

Maybe, the better way forward is to allow life to lead. Maybe, you won’t end up in the place that you wanted to. But maybe you do reach a place that is 10 times better than you hoped for.

So..

Can you be a passenger?