One Barrel at a time - Lessons from the Sahara Desert
Have you every felt overwhelmed by life's journey? I have recently finished reading the book Eat that Frog by Brain Tracy and gained a powerful insight from the story about 'one barrel at a time' that originates in the Sahara Desert and that can help you when working with your soul's purpose.
Eat that Frog
Eat that Frog by Brain Tracy is a really good read if like me you easily get overwhelmed and that leads to procrastination.
One story stuck out in it and it is about a 500-mile stretch of the Sahara where many have lost their way crossing this big expanse until the French marked the path with black oil drums every 5 kilometres, perfectly aligned with the curvature of the Earth. During the day, you can always see two oil barrels: the one you just passed and the next one ahead. It is where the saying take it "one barrel at a time came from".
"Have you ever felt lost in your journey? What small step can you take today to move forward?"
The black oil drums in the Sahara are not just a navigation tool but a metaphor for life - reminding us to focus on the next step rather than the distant horizon.
Sometimes, life feels like crossing a vast desert - endless, overwhelming, and directionless. But just as travelers in the Sahara rely on black oil drums spaced every 5 kilometers, we can navigate life by focusing on the next small step ahead.
The Power of Small Steps
This approach has inspired me and my coaching clients as we work toward soul alignment. Instead of being paralysed by the enormity of the journey, we focus on one clear step at a time. Each point reveals the next, bringing clarity and purpose to the path.
When I guide individuals through a Soul Plan Reading, the end destination of Soul Destiny may seem impossibly distant. I know it did for me in the beginning but when I shifted my focus from the overwhelming end goal to the small, immediate steps, everything started to change and has become the process I use with clients during soul alignment coaching.
Applying the Oil Barrel Approach to Your Soul’s Journey
From a soul alignment perspective this is about next point on our Soul Plan Star of Creation (these are points associated with your challenges, talents and goals from the souls perspective) - so one step at a time in this case means just focusing on one point ahead.
And just like steering towards the next oil barrel in the desert, each point brings clarity and alignment. The leap to align with the next point reveals itself, guiding us forward on our unique path.
"Have you ever felt lost in your journey? What small step can you take today to move forward?"
Sometimes we just need a soulful reminder to stop focussing constantly on the end goal and to....
Trust the process. Embrace each step.
Your soul's purpose will unfold one oil barrel or point at a time.
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"What’s your next oil barrel? Take a moment today to identify one small, meaningful step towards your purpose."