Public transport in Auckland is fairly unreliable, not unlike life. But, just like life, there are ways to prepare for and respond to it to make the best of the situation.

This article will be a insightful analogy on the life lessons we can learn from a simple day-to-day activity such as taking public transport.

Note: I wrote down notes for this, while waiting for a bus to arrive.

Firstly, allow extra time to get to your bus stop or train station. Allow for extra time for the bus or train that you want to turn up. And allow extra time overall to get to your intended destination, in case surprise obstacles appear along the way.

In life we often subconsciously ask life to give us what we ask for, when we ask for it. We might be searching for a specific job in a niche field, or trying to achieve that sub four minute mile, or trying to clock your favourite computer game, and sometimes these goals end up taking more time than we expect them to. Usually that leads to frustration, and frustration can lead to despair, and then all-of-a-sudden you are in a gloomy headspace with uncertainty of what to do next.

Instead of following this downward spiral, we can choose instead to remain mindful of the fact that sometimes things do not happen in the time-space that you have so precisely pigeon-holed them into. Patience is required to allow for the employer to review your CV and respond, or for your legs to build up the muscle required for that marathon. Sometimes our goals are limited by external factors such as number of job positions, weather or resources, and other times our goals are limited by internal factors, such as anxiety, depression, or self-esteem struggles. We need to allow extra time for these critical points in our lives to manifest and we need to take care of ourselves along the way.

The next point that I wanted to make, is that it is important to stay focussed on the goal destination. Oftentimes we can feel disheartened because life isn’t going the way you hoped it might, and at these times it is easy to narrow your vision (figuratively speaking) or sink into depression and lose sight of what you were trying to achieve in the first place. While it is much easier said than done to maintain one’s mental health, there are a number of simple ways to remain focussed on a certain life goal, regardless of your mental well-being level.

One of these techniques is to write down your goals. Write them in a notebook, or perhaps write them on post-it notes and stick them in a prominent location in your bedroom or around the house where you are likely to notice it. I also tend to add positive affirmations (written on paper) onto my walls to act as a visual reminder of positivity. Writing down your goals will act as a reference guide for when life gets particularly busy or tough. Make a habit of writing a few notes in a notebook on a regular basis, and ensure that each time you go to write something new, you read over part of what you’ve written in the past to keep all your proximal goals fresh in your mind.

Another technique which I use to remind myself of my goals is to invite close friends to be part of the goal-seeking team. What I mean by this is that, I talk to close friends who I trust about my current goals, and often they tell me about their goals too, and then in future conversations we remind each other of what we are aiming for, particularly in situations where the emotional “blinkers” have been put on. Creating a support network in this way is an important part of continuing to maintain good mental health, and good goal-oriented momentum.

And, as a brief return to the public transport idea, staying focussed on the goal destination means you won’t miss your stop.

Thirdly: Look for landmarks. As one travels around a city via bus or train, it is easy to get lost in all the glorious sights out the window, especially if you are in a new city and forget about your destination/route. In a similar way, throughout one’s life, it is easy to become side-tracked or overwhelmed by the immediate view of your life, and forget to notice the goals or part-goals you have already achieved. As part of positive self-reinforcement, make sure to take note of goals you have achieved and acknowledge that success, building up your own positive self-image at the same time.

Finally, remember to get off at the best stop for you. In the same way as you wouldn’t hope off the bus at a stop that required an up-hill walk, if you could choose to walk downhill from the next stop on the route, make sure you choose the best life path for yourself. Just because you chose a certain major at uni, job, or trade doesn’t mean you have to stick with it for your whole life. You are in charge of sailing the ship of your own life. Feel free to change direction, if your current path is no longer working for you. There will always be other options/busses/trains for you to choose from.

Take care, and as always, I hope this post has been inspirational.