Calibrating Your Internal Compass

The compass is useful at the very least; at times it can be a genuine life saver. This month as we examine our internal compass, it’s easy to see parallels between the familiar one used in the wilds and the one that guides us to act with integrity. 

First, it takes practice and experience to know how to read either compass. I originally assumed the one we used at camp would point me in the direction I should go. I learned that was only the case if I rotated the compass in the direction to match the arrow which pointed north. I also discovered that following my compass rather than my best guess was usually a more reliable way to get to the correct destination. Those principles apply to our internal compass–sometimes referred to as our conscience. We need to take time to identify our feelings and set our hearts on the path that points to the best way to think and act. We may certainly get input from other people and sources that will inform our decisions and choices. Surprisingly, we often discover some of the best ideas may come from unlikely sources and alternate routes. 

External and internal influences can give us wrong readings on either compass. Metal, screws, phones, and other metallic objects can give us inaccurate compass readings on a physical compass. Age and wisdom has shown me that anger and fear can disrupt the accuracy and clarity of my internal compass. An open heart and mind, quiet, and a sincere desire to know the truth and act with integrity will increase the likelihood and frequency of being able to recognize and read our compass within. 

Here a passionate and entertaining compass user describes why and how to calibrate a compass. His description states, “Compasses can sometimes give inaccurate directions; this can be caused by a number of reasons. To be able to continue to use your compass you need to calibrate it. Compass calibration is the process of finding out the precise direction your compass is pointing and, if necessary, making adjustments to your direction of travel based on this information. This process is crucial for accurate navigation.” He explains that accurate calibration of any type requires comparing results with something you have confidence in, such as a trusty level, watch, or map. A trusted person or time-tested method fits that bill for me.

Our compass friend’s suggestions are easily applied to attempts to calibrate both a hand-held compass and the one we hold inside our hearts. We need to find out precisely the direction we are going and make adjustments if necessary to our direction of travel. Doing so will give us confidence that our compass will guide us in the right direction on life’s journey. A woman I admire asserts proper decisions require using the mind and heart. No matter how logical or popular an idea may seem, always compare it to the readings of the internal compass in your heart. Does it feel right? 

As noted before, we need to take time to listen, review information, see if we trust the accuracy of sources we have used, and then adjust our hearts and intent to earnestly seek the direction of travel to guide us to truth and honest motives. 

Personally, my compass calibration must accurately point to unchanging values I trust. One such value is honoring the divinity within each person and looking for things on which we can agree and compromise. At times I simply can’t agree with a direction that is devoid of values I have come to trust by using my internal compass, but that should never give me license to be demeaning, dishonest, or disrespectful. I am determined to use self-restraint, reason, civility, and respect to calibrate my compass. 

I invite you to take steps to align your internal compass with integrity, guided by an open mind and heart. It will likely call for frequent and often minor course corrections, but it will lead to increasing confidence in your life’s direction.

Lead Photo Credit: Aaron Burden via Unsplash