“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” – asked Alice
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where-” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
The above conversation takes place between Alice and Cheshire Cat in the book, Alice in Wonderland by C S Lewis.
Alice, while she is dreaming, reaches this strange, mad place referred to as Wonderland. After many experiences with the residents of the place, at one point, she comes to a fork junction and cannot decide which road to take. While she is visibly confused, she sees the Cheshire Cat ( a speaking cat which can magically appear and disappear herself) and asks her “which way“.
In this brief conversation, comes out the most important life lesson from Alice and her question.
If you don’t know what you want to do or where you want to go, no advice on the path is ever going to be helpful.
Let’s take some other similar conversations you are likely to have played out in your own life.
Which career should I choose?
Depends on what you want to do?
Where should I invest my money?
Depends on what you want to achieve?
The purpose, the goal, the aim, the objective, have a large role to play in how we will take decisions about our life, career and money.
That is also what will make you get out of bed every morning to do things that will help you make a difference.
But right now, if you are in Alice’s situation and asking “which road to take” then it is time to think.
“What is my purpose?”
If you haven’t, also see this talk “Finding your Why” by Simon Sinek.
Between you and me:
What is your purpose, your goal? Why are you doing what you are doing? I would love to read your thoughts in the comments below or just mail me at hello [at] vipinkhandelwal [dot] com.
Conversation Source: An Alice is in Wonderland