There-Here-Path2023-06-07T15:05:25+00:00

How Life Works

There-Here-Path:

You can’t get where you want to go without proper aim and an honest assessment of where you’re standing.
The THERE-HERE-PATH describes how life works. Based on our values, this framework guides all of life’s decisions towards a single, transcendent goal.
An image showing the relationship between here and there, with a zig zag line between them.

What is THERE?

THERE is a goal or desire which motivates us to act, and it’s the outcome of life’s framework. You should be able to memorize any THERE you choose, and it should be meaningful enough to you that you can commit to it whole-heartedly.

In other words, the goals you choose should flow from your values. If your THERE does not flow from your values, it simply won’t matter enough to you for you to follow through.

“THERE’s” apply on two levels: transcendent and objective. Transcendent THERE’s are life missions. We will never be able to accomplish these goals, but the other subsidiary goals in our lives should serve that transcendent purpose.

What is HERE?

One of the most essential steps to progressing towards our transcendent vision is clearly recognizing where we are. Many of the tools we present help us establish a clear picture of our HERE.

Why HERE matters:
– We’re good at lying to ourselves.
– If we don’t know where we are, we can never really know where we’re going.
– “HERE” is constantly changing, because we are constantly changing

What is PATH?

Our PATH is the set of steps that we take to get from HERE to THERE. We outline this path through the goals we set. We have to carefully set goals that move us from “HERE” to “THERE.” The goals we set should be SMART:

Specific: The more specific a goal is, the more seriously we will take it
Measurable: We have to be able to know if we succeeded or failed at achieving our goals
Achievable: Why set a goal you can’t achieve?
Results Oriented: Your goals should line up with your vision
Time Bound: Making sure that every goal has a timeframe creates structural tension and accountability

Three ways to use the THERE-HERE-PATH

1. To cast a vision: Start with your transcendent THERE (this goal should be much bigger than what you are capable of accomplishing and should flow from your values). Starting with this vision of a possible future, think about how you can move from your current reality towards this imagined future.

2. To set goals: these goals are smaller objectives on the way to our transcendent vision. They help define the path we take from our present reality to our imagined, transcendent future. Essentially, using THP to set goals breaks down our transcendent vision into bite-sized chunks.

3. To solve problems: if you start with your current reality (HTP, instead of THP), then you can use the THERE-HERE-PATH framework as a way to solve problems. However, a constant stream of problem solving is existentially meaningless if our problem solving does not serve a higher vision.

What are some examples of how you have already been using THP in your life this week? Take some time, considering your values, to think about and write your Transcendent THERE. Can you commit to it?
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