We do have control over our fate. When God created us he gave us the power of choice. It's the choices in life that we make that determine where we will end up. I'm sure you've heard the saying if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there? Well to avoid taking the road to anywhere, you need to create a Life Map.

What does success mean to you? Success is more than money, titles, and degrees. In order to be truly successful you need to map out all aspects of your life, your origin, where you want to go, how you're going to get there, your baggage, landmarks, and route.

Genesis 1:26 says: Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life - the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals and small animals.

Do you understand what this means? We were created to be like God. Of course, in this present state, we cannot be perfect or as powerful, but this will happen eventually in the future world. However, there are things we can do now. There have been many great people in our world, past and present. You too can be great, it is not impossible.

A map has a starting point. Your origin is who you are right now. To gain insights about yourself, you need to look closely at your beliefs, values, and principles aside from your economic, professional, cultural, and background status. You can also use your experiences to help you determine good and bad traits, your skills, knowledge, strengths, and weaknesses. After this determination, then decide where you want to go and who you want to be.

Your vision is who you want to be. Once you understand and know yourself you will have a clearer idea of this, and the things you want to change whether they are attitudes, habits, or opinions. Your destination should also cover the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of your being. After defining these aspects let's say you want to dedicate your life to helping children. We'll use this as an example.

A vehicle is the means by which you can reach your destination. This is relative to your mission or vocation in life. After your initial self-assessment, you've decided to become a Paediatrician then your vision: mission will be: to dedicate your life to helping children by becoming a Paediatrician.

All your travelling necessities are contained in a bag. Applying this concept to your life map means you bring with you certain knowledge, skills, and attitudes that determine whether you are capable in attaining your vision. As such you need to assess what knowledge, skills, and attitudes you presently have, and what you need to get along the way. After these assessments you will have a better understanding of your landmarks or your tools for success. So in order for you to become a Paediatrician, you will need professional knowledge and skills in medicine. Also if you know you don't have much patience with children, then this is an attitude that you will need to change.

In planning out your life, you need to have landmarks and a route. These landmarks are your tools of success. These tools must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-lined. Thus you cannot set two major landmarks such as earning a master's degree and a doctorate degree within a period of three years, since the minimum number of years to complete a master's degree is two years. So your life map to becoming a Paediatrician would entail: completing a degree in biology by the age of 21; completing medicine by age 27; then completing child psychology by age 32. (Please keep in mind this is just an analogy).

The purpose of your life map is to minimize hasty and spur-of-the-moment decisions that can get you lost. Oftentimes our plans are modified along the way due to unforeseen circumstances. We must anticipate these and make adjustments accordingly.

Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe (Proverbs 2:11)