Captain on deck

Sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself

You’re on a ship. Unrelenting wind and angry waves attack you from every direction.

No stars to guide you home. No safe harbour over the horizon. No clear destination.

You’re lost in the sea of life: calm and serene one moment, wild and unforgiving the next.

As king, high up in your imaginary throne of control, you proclaim your dominion over the elements, give orders to move forward, command the sea to settle down, and ask the wind to take you to your destination.

But you’re not king. You’re a captain.

Step on deck and take the fucking wheel.

Master

The sea owes you nothing.

With your first step on the deck — even if you are the most capable captain to ever steer a ship — the sea of life doesn’t give a shit. It owes you nothing.

It will keep on keeping on with complete disregard to you, your wishes, desires, or earned accolades from years of navigating its treacherous waters.

No guarantees, no assurances, and no promises.

Your first lesson in mastery is to expect nothing and expect everything.

The sea of life might give you safe passage to your desired destination, and might just as well throw everything it has at you.

The sooner you put your hands on the wheel, start navigating the demands life places on you, and overcome the challenges it throws at you, the sooner you build the skill you need to navigate the demands it will place on you and overcome the challenges it will throw at you.

It’s the very real, unrelenting, never-ending circle that’s your life.

Then you die!

An excerpt from The Dark Art of Mastering Your Life book.