A Simple Life Gap Map That Makes Sense Of The Ones You Have To Pay For
By
Bill Cottringer

“Life gets to be fun only when we begin to feel free to live it; but there is no real freedom apart from responsibility and ownership.” ~Dr. Henry Cloud.

Here are two important things you know than no one else does:

First, only you know exactly where you are on your journey (probably not exactly where you would really like to be). And secondly, only you know where you want to be (living your dreams and goals happily and dealing with misfortunes gracefully).

Now here is one thing I know that you may not know: You don’t have to buy maps on how to close this gap. Here’s a free gap-closing map worth more than all the gold in Fort Knox (what’s left of it):

1. We are all searching for happiness, success, meaning, love, connectedness, acknowledgment, validation and a sense of making a real difference in changing situations we are in, for the better for ourselves and others.

2. We all learn how to be successful in this common pursuit mostly through trial and error and the wisdom and advice of others who have gone before us in doing so—teachers, parents, ministers, counselors, friends and experts.

3. The only four things really necessary to succeed in this journey are: (a) an attitude of willingness to be open to learning, growing and improving into our best selves (b) taking responsibility and ownership for your choices and their consequences, (c) maintaining courage and hope, regardless of the inevitable adversities and misfortunes that happen, and (d) asking for help when you need it.

And, there are plenty of useful and valuable tips about how to read and follow all the available maps on closing your gap at this enabling and enriching self-growth site.

The Map of All Maps

We all have a life story to live, tell and share, whether we are just beginning at 10 years of age or near the curtain’s end at 90 years old. We all want and need: (a) To be accepted for who we are and acknowledged/validated for what we know and can contribute, and (b) To be open to learning, growing and improving into the best person we were born to be in exchange for this life.

All we have to do is put our heads together, share our stories, secrets and suspicions, and help each other move forward with courage, perseverance and hope into the unknown. This is actually what we are already doing in our own individual ways, but sometimes we get derailed from the bruises, bleeding and broken bones. That is when we may need to pause and think about the things which we should be discarding and deleting that only delay our deliverance to the true freedom and responsibility that works to close our map gaps. There are two main things to focus on when reading this main gap map:

• Figuring out how to learn and practice the most legitimate and effective ways to connect and be acknowledged/validated by expressing a genuine openness to learning, growing and improving, and being sensitive to good timing in recognizing this common journey in others.
• Accepting and embracing the requirement of being humble and patient in showing you really do care about others before they can care enough to learn about what you know to help “cure” their particular predicament, problem or burden.

Life really is simple despite how unnecessarily complicated we try to make it. We all want the same thing and there is only one best way to get it. That is, being responsible for: (a) making the “right” choices in eating, working, resting, relating, playing and spending, and (b) avoiding the wrong choices that widen the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

“Living is what helps us learn to make the right choices that get us to where we want to be and avoid the wrong ones that get us lost.” ~The author.

William Cottringer, Ph.D. is Executive Vice-President for Employee Relations for Puget Sound Security, Inc. in Bellevue, WA, along with his hobbies in being a Sport Psychologist, Business Success Coach, Photographer and Writer living in the peaceful but invigorating mountains and rivers of North Bend. He is author of several business and self-development books, including, “You Can Have Your Cheese & Eat It Too” (Executive Excellence), “The Bow-Wow Secrets” (Wisdom Tree), “Do What Matters Most” and “P” Point Management” (Atlantic Book Publishers), “Reality Repair” (Global Vision Press), Reality Repair Rx (Authorsden), and “If Pictures Could Talk,” coming soon. Bill can be reached for comments or questions at (425) 454-5011 or ckuretdoc@comcast.net

Author's Bio: 

William Cottringer, Ph.D. is Executive Vice-President for Employee Relations for Puget Sound Security, Inc. in Bellevue, WA, along with his hobbies in being a Sport Psychologist, Business Success Coach, Photographer and Writer living in the peaceful but invigorating mountains and rivers of North Bend. He is author of several business and self-development books, including, “You Can Have Your Cheese & Eat It Too” (Executive Excellence), “The Bow-Wow Secrets” (Wisdom Tree), “Do What Matters Most” and “P” Point Management” (Atlantic Book Publishers), “Reality Repair” (Global Vision Press), Reality Repair Rx (Authorsden), and “If Pictures Could Talk,” coming soon. Bill can be reached for comments or questions at (425) 454-5011 or ckuretdoc@comcast.net