You’ve heard it all before: If you want to get anywhere, you need to know where you’re going. He who fails to plan, plans to fail. Prevention is better than a cure. Or my personal favorite: It pays to plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark!
All the encouragement to plan and prepare is great but what do you do when you’ve planned and prepared, only to find that you’re still lost? What do you do when all you can see is a tiny bit of path in front of you and all around is darkness?
Here’s what you can learn from your journey in the fog:
Slow Down
If you can’t see where you’re going, in life as when literally driving in the fog, take it slowly. Now is not the time to be racing forward, hoping for the best. You can’t see where you’re going so just concentrate on the little bit you can see and do that.
Avoid using full beam
You know what it’s like, you can’t see the road in front of you so you decide to put your lights on full beam. What happens? You’re blinded and and you (if you’re anything like me 
) panic a little at the realisation of just how little you can see.
When the best laid plans seem to have let you down, one of the worst things you can do is strive to see the bigger picture. Striving won’t get you anywhere other than a one way ticket to frustration and exhaustion. Turn the lights down and just keeping focusing on the little bit you can see. Don’t set yourself up for a scare by shining a bright light on the fog. All it will do is show you just how little you can see right now.
Cat’s Eyes / Bott’ Dots
Here in the UK we call them Cat’s Eyes. The US have Bott’s Dots. When you’re driving in the fog, these clever little inventions can be a life saver. Travelling a road with cat’s eyes installed and despite the fog, you can use your full beam and the cat’s eyes will light up the route, guiding you safely. When daily life is a bit like travelling through thick fog, you need to find your cat’s eyes, someone to be your guide you along the way. You don’t have to journey alone, it’s safer and a lot more fun to travel with company 
When the fog breaks, enjoy!
As tough as it is to travel in fog, it won’t last forever. By taking it slowly and travelling with a friend, you will eventually make it through. It helps to remember the temporary nature of fog when travelling and the same is true of life. Life is a journey. When you get past the tough stuff, enjoy the moment. It is very tempting to dwell on how hard that period was. Don’t! In the words of columnist Jan Glidewell,
“You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present.”
Over to you. What do you think? Who do you turn to when you need someone to guide you?
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Twitter: kruby
Great advice, Eleanor
I, personally, have never heard of ‘Cat’s Eyes or Bott’s Dots’ but can understand what you’re saying
One thing that I think is really helpful to remember when you are in a fog and trying to follow your plan is to take one small step forward and have faith that your path is the right one.
Continue to take a small step forward and feel if you are still on the right path. If you are, then take another small step and another until you complete the plan.
If you find yourself taking a small step and find the path uneven or the wrong one, go back and revise your plan. You don’t have to go forth blindly, you can feel your way slowly to ensure that it’s a true path for you. Even in the fog. It’s more important than ever to slow down and feel your way through when the path is foggy and unclear.
Did that make sense? I hope you know what I mean
Karen
Twitter: GiveABrick
Hi Karen,
It’s very easy to rush forward, confident that the plan is being executed in the way it was always meant to be but sometimes, even the best laid plans need tweaking 
I agree and understand exactly what you mean
.-= Eleanor´s last blog ..How to Maintain a Healthy Mind =-.
Twitter: benlumley6
Great post Eleanor.
To survive the fog you need to change your focus. When thing’s are clear in life it’s easy to look ahead and focus on things a long way in front. But when the fog descends, which it does, you need to change your focus and work on the little steps knowing that you’re on the right path to a bigger destiny.
Great analogy
.-= Ben´s last blog ..Everything I Need to Know About Personal Discovery I Learned from Anime =-.
Twitter: GiveABrick
Hi Ben,
You’re right. The change in the point of focus is important. Thanks for reminding us of that. It was driving home Wednesday night in very dense fog that allowed this whole thought process to evolve. I found it fascinating.
.-= Eleanor´s last blog ..How to Maintain a Healthy Mind =-.
Twitter: bluepop13
We all need guidance of some sort in our lives. I really like the message you have here because I know how crazy and scary it can be driving in fog and you can’t see very far, it’s not fun.
I usually just tell myself that God’s watching over me should anything happen. I also remind myself that after I get through it – and I will, that it’ll have been one more experience I can use to learn how to do it better next time.
We should all slow down a bit and make sure we’re seeing clear enough to get where we’re going to. It’s not always fun but it can be a great lesson to look closer at where we’re at vs. starting way out into a far distance. The big picture is great but sometimes can seem overwhelming.
What do you think?
.-= Eric´s last blog ..Real Or Robot =-.
Twitter: GiveABrick
Hi Eric,
Good to see you. How’s things? I had to smile when you spoke about reminding yourself that God’s watching over you. When I was driving on Wednesday night, I spent more time reminding God that He loved me and so could He please keep me going in the right direction
.-= Eleanor´s last blog ..How to Maintain a Healthy Mind =-.
Twitter: TheInfoPreneur
I really like this Eleanor, fantastic analogy. You do need to take a step back sometimes and just think, or not think. Either way (for most people) running straight into a wall doesn’t work, unless (and here comes the motivation Eleanor) you can run with so much force you smash that wall down!
.-= TheInfoPreneur´s last blog ..Why Your Comments Section Should Be Like A Forum =-.
Twitter: ryanhanzel
Amazing post Eleanor! It’s amazing how scary not being able to see the bigger picture can be but focusing on the little bit you can will help you out in the long run. Keep it up Eleanor, off to watch the Super Bowl now!
.-= Ryan Hanzel´s last blog ..Being a loving person =-.
Twitter: GiveABrick
Hi James,
You personally I understand will smash it and keep going because that’s who you are 
I agree that if you hit the wall with enough force, you’ll smash it down but there’s also the danger you’ll wind up dead
Out of interest, what do you do to relax and unwind? Your wife must be a very special lady. I’m sure most would be exhausted by now
Twitter: GiveABrick
You’re right Ryan. It is scary and unnerving but you’ve got to trust that the path you’re on is still the right one and try to avoid focussing on the fear
Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for your encouragement.
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