Four Steps for Living at Full Throttle

I find it amazing that the awesome power of a motorcycle is controlled by one very small part… the throttle.  The life of the beast is controlled only by a flick of the wrist.  The roar of a V-Twin is increased as more fuel is injected into the system simply by rolling on the throttle.  Without any coaxing from the throttle, the engine will not move forward and will only idle… going nowhere.

Lisa at Full Throttle - photo courtesy of the Buffalo Chip

I’ve been thinking lately about what it means to live life at full throttle.  It’s easy to know what it doesn’t mean…  It doesn’t mean going mach 10 with your hair on fire where you’re totally out of control.  It’s not about living at an excessive speed where you don’t have time to slow down.

To me, living full throttle is about accelerating to an optimal speed where I feel fully alive and am living my best life.  It’s about fueling my passion and loving the journey as I’m living the journey!

To do this, it means taking the following four steps:

1.  Pick your Destination – What does your future hold?  What do you want to be, do, or have in your life?  I’ve hit halftime in my life, so I’ve been thinking about what the second half holds for me and what I want to accomplish.  It’s important to me to be able to make a difference in the lives of others and to live my purpose with passion.  So with these ideals, I’m choosing my destination wisely so I know where I’m headed in the next 40 years of my journey.

2.  Follow your Map – If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.  Fortunately, I do know where I’m going and NOT every road will get me there.  If you’re clear on your destination, the route is pretty clear.  The next step is just figuring out what your stops are along the way… the small goals you set for yourself to get you to your destination.

3.  Hit the Road -  There is an old Chinese proverb that says “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  This is true but you must also take the next step… and the next step… and the next…  Some people plan so much that they never even get started on their journey.  Dreaming is the easy part… doing is the hard part.  This is where you stop revving the engine, kick it into gear, and hit the road.

4.  Find Your 6th Gear – 6th gear is where power meets efficiency and optimal performance is reached.  When riding in 6th gear, I’ve hit my cruising speed and the machine and I are one with the road.  This is where everything is in sync and I’m riding at an optimal level.  Same goes in life… there is a point where you’re living the life you have dreamed about… where your actions are aligned with your priorities and you’re firing on all cylinders.

Have you found the groove where you’re living at full throttle?  Do you know where you’re going and have a roadmap that will get you there?  Have you started your journey or is your bike still in the garage?  Are you shaking in 5th gear?  If so, kick it down one more time… it’s a smoother ride in 6th gear!

Posted In: Full Throttle Living | 1 comment »
Tags: 6th Gear, Control, Destination, Full Throttle, Life balance, Life plan, Plan, Priorities, Roadmap