Calibrating the Compass: When Goals Shift and Life Changes

Calibration: A Journey of Awareness

In this week’s post, we talked about finding direction in a noisy world: how we need a digital compass more than a constant map. I want to dig deeper: sometimes the compass you had is no longer accurate. It needs recalibration.

Over my career, I’ve learned that direction is not static. What guided me five years ago might not be what guides me now. The key is to notice when the needle is off and know how to reset it.

The Story

I’ve always said I want to live down south “someday.” It sounds like a dream, a direction. But dreams without calibration can turn into aimless chasing. When I ask, ‘Is my digital compass pointing me there?’ Am I even listening? — That’s when clarity emerges.

I heard a podcast over the weekend that stuck with me: the host talked about how most men don’t ask for directions. It’s not just stubbornness—many feel asking is admitting they’re lost. According to a British survey cited by ABC News, 26% of men wait at least half an hour before asking for directions, and 12% refuse to ask at all. 

That statistic hit me: many of us wander longer than necessary because we don’t recalibrate our bearings. We don’t ask. We don’t pause. We stay lost in motion.

Even with all our devices, maps, and alerts, we often feel off course. That’s because direction isn’t just external; it’s internal. It’s about aligning what the world says you should do with what your inner compass wants.

Running taught me this again and again. Sometimes I run with music; a fresh beat resets my pace. At other times, I run with no music. I listen to the world around me: footsteps, wind, birds, breathing. I quiet the noise inside me and let the path re-emerge. That’s calibration in motion.

So I ask myself: am I chasing “south someday,” or am I aligning daily to make it real?

The Framework: How to Recalibrate Your Compass

1. Reflect regularly.
2. Set a monthly or quarterly “check-in.” Ask: Are my goals still true north, or has life shifted the magnetic field?
3. Listen to your internal compass.
4. Feel the dissonance. When things feel off, that’s your compass nudging you. Please don’t ignore it.
5. Adjust, don’t abandon.
6. Calibration doesn’t require a complete restart. Sometimes, a tweak—changing one habit, reframing one mindset—is enough to bring you back on course.
7. Iterate freely.
8. Direction isn’t a fixed line. It’s a season-by-season compass. Please update it. Reframe it. Grow with it.

The Bigger Picture

Men not asking for directions is more than a stereotype: it’s a metaphor for how we live. We often resist recalibration because asking feels like failure. But recalibration is a strength. It’s awareness. It’s humility. It’s wisdom.

Your digital compass is your greatest asset, not your notifications or timelines. But it needs regular tuning. When your north shifts, adapt.

The most resilient people aren’t those who never shift direction; they’re the ones who know when to recalibrate and who dare to ask for help.

Goals and Next Steps

• Schedule a compass check. Set aside time this week (30 minutes) to journal: Where am I going? Does it still feel right?
• Ask for perspective. Find someone you trust (a mentor, spouse, or coach) and share your “north.” Ask theirs. See where your compasses align or diverge.
• Align one habit. Choose one action that reflects your true direction (e.g., daily writing, intentional exercise, clearer priorities). Make it non-negotiable for 30 days.

Question for you:

When was the last time you checked if your compass still points in the direction you want to go?