Take the zigzag path

Take the Zigzag path

If you’re an overwhelmed teacher feeling wounded today because something didn’t go according to plan, let me give you a lift. Take the zigzag path. This is something I read in a book a long time ago that really helped me overcome setbacks in my career. The zigzag path is a metaphor for not going in a straight line towards your goals.

Often, when we have a goal, we experience setbacks. We may need to step off the route we had planned and follow another path for a while. In many ways, this is not such a bad thing. I’m sure you've heard it said before that it's not just the destination that is important but what you learn on the journey. It’s normal to come across forks in the road and obstacles that you must go around. These are just tests to help you decide whether your goal is important or just a wish.

It’s fine to change your mind if along the way you learn that you want to do something else. Don't be demoralized, disillusioned, or despairing if things don't go according to plan. It's not necessarily a sign that you shouldn't aspire to something, nor is it a sign that you are doing something wrong. It's just life.

Get back on the path. Get a piece of paper today and remind yourself of the goal and why you want it. Then, plan two things you can do this week and next to make it happen, and two things that need to be done in the next two months to bring you closer.

AI Generated Image Zigzag path