Getting Lost
“I’m Lost”. Two words that create worry, fear, even terror. Being lost implies not knowing where you are, and not knowing how to get back–to safety, to stability, to normalcy. An extreme lack of control. With an exclamation point, a deep cry for help. Most avoid these words at all cost. Staying found is way more comfortable, even if where you are kind of sucks. Most prefer remaining in a difficult or negative or dark place over the potential of getting lost, of trying something new, of walking into the unknown.
Interestingly, getting lost in a book, a song, a movie, a hobby, a sporting event, these are the experiences we crave. Getting outside of the day to day thinking, planning, stressing, problem solving, then letting the brain go elsewhere for a while, this is what we dream of. Getting lost in nature, art or a great story lifts you to a new place, offering a new approach, a new perspective. Get lost and leave behind the challenges right in front of you, or sitting ominously on your todo list. This is getting lost intentionally, and we celebrate its power to lift us up.
When you are physically lost, you get focused on your immediate surroundings, looking for clues, intensely probing the here and now. Grasping for something known. No time for daydreaming or panic, being in this moment is everything. You focus on your immediate surroundings; you make a plan; you trust your plan; you act. Jettison what is not essential and carry only what you must. Maybe you find a familiar path to follow. Maybe you send up a flare. Maybe you build a shelter against the elements and wait for the search party. Be present, be intentional, make a plan, then act. Gain some control.
Getting lost, then found, is like riding a bike, learning to swim. You can’t just read about it, you must experience it. Being profoundly lost is an overwhelming emotional experience, physically and mentally excruciating. Each moment lost is crystalised in eternity. But you learn to stay present, to stabilize, to allow a plan to arrive. Then you surrender to it. There is no other option. When you get found, in hindsight the process becomes obvious, clear as day. The next time you get lost, you surrender a bit sooner; your fear is slightly reduced, you accept, you act more confidently. You know there is a way forward, a way out. You gain trust and patience in the path.
For spiritual path-walkers, getting lost eventually becomes expected and essential. No path is straight and flat, they meander. Each as unique as you are. Navigation requires acquiring new knowledge and experience, new truths about reality, new perspectives on who you truly are. Path-walking towards Truth initially feels unfamiliar. The path asks you to leave behind what you think you know, and replace it with the new knowledge and practices you encounter along the way. This feels confusing and disorienting; how do I get back? By simply and absolutely trusting the path you’ve chosen is correct; knowing that getting lost is necessary, and is temporary. Picking a path that resonates with you, that you embark on intentionally, soon turns your fear into welcome anticipation. Then you surrender, more fully. That is the correct approach. This is simple, but not easy. It takes time to absorb and make this path your own.
On the path, living in the present moment is everything. Worrying about the past makes no difference, it is gone. The future is impossible to control, it doesn’t yet exist. So you focus on the present alone, as nothing else matters. Deep learning happens here, in the now. Get rid of old stories and the baggage too heavy to carry. Travel light, unattached to what was once important. Trust you already have all you need. That your destination will rise up to find you. On the spiritual path there are no wrong steps–only next steps. Surrender control, trust your steps, keep moving forward, become remarkably found!
How to avoid the fear, the terror, the confusion of feeling lost? Find a practice with teachings you deeply trust. A community to share and learn with. A Pathfinder to show you how to explore.
There are many paths to the same summit. Some ancient, some new; the real ones have deep teachings and guardrails for support. Find one that resonates deeply with you, and begin.
Pathfinders wander and meander the paths near the summit. The destination is known to them. Getting lost is a well known and welcome part of their journey. Getting found requires their deepest surrender–to the surroundings, to the moment, to the path. Trust is their compass, the only tool they need. They know the destination finds them.
Pathfinders are powerful friends to spiritual path-walkers:
If you feel lost and disoriented, they help you get found, back on familiar terrain, grounded, hydrated and re-orientated. Identify lessons learned and integrate.
If you are ready to expand and explore, they help in identifying available paths, mapping out your next steps and acquiring the key tools. They support your preparations, walk alongside for a while, and when ready, encourage you to get lost–intentionally.
