One of first things most of us remember hearing when learning to drive an automobile was "Keep your hands on wheel." Then there were other precautions like, "Keep your eyes on road, drive defensively, buckle up for safety, and watch road signs!" These basic precautions would keep us moving along safely, and help us arrive at our intended destinations on time. Remembering these simple golden rules of safe driving can also help with achievement of other important objectives.

1. Keep Your Hands on Wheel

Winners spend majority of their time doing things that bring them closer to their goals. They stay on intended path because their "hands are on wheel." They make most of each minute by staying engaged in actions of high priority. They accept help from others. However they take ultimate responsibility for guiding themselves to their destination.

2. Keep Your Eyes on Road

Winners hold a clear view of what they want to achieve. By having a plan, and keeping outcome clearly in mind, they are less likely to become sidetracked and lured into actions that waste precious time. They rest occasionally, enjoying scenery and excitement of journey. Yet when in motion, they keep their eyes on path ahead, focusing on outcome they want to achieve.

3. Drive Defensively

“Good fences make good neighbors.” Robert Frost

I listened intently as my client described how lousy his past week had been. Up to that point in our work together his progress had been steady, and his energy level had gradually increased. This week, however, he felt miserable, physically and emotionally.

I asked him if he could identify any factors that might have created shift in his energy. He told me about some increased pressure at work and that he stopped doing his daily spiritual practice, something he had made a commitment to himself to maintain.

Suddenly, in middle of our investigation, he changed subject and began to tell me about a small drama unfolding with his neighbor. He shared that adjacent boundary lines with this neighbor had never been clearly defined. Recently, neighbor took it upon himself to mark property line with some stakes according to his own interpretation.

The neighbor's act annoyed my client. It also re-opened a can of worms that had been closed long ago. Although reticent, my client was ready to initiate a conversation with neighbor. He wanted to clarify property line question. What became strikingly curious to both of us was why he'd been willing to tolerate unclear boundary for so many years.

I then pointed out what seemed like an interesting connection between his lousy week, stopping his spiritual practice and property line issue with his neighbor.

I could see it in his eyes as it dawned on him that perhaps he had not clearly defined and stated importance of his own internal boundary, in this case maintaining his spiritual practice. He unconsciously dropped something instrumental to his self-care in deference to demands of his work.