The other day, I was coaching Naomi, a thoughtful executive at a crossroads in both her career and personal life. “I feel like I’m in a fog,” she said. “It’s not that things are bad, I just don’t know what direction to take next.”

We sat in silence for a moment. Then I glanced at the old brass compass on the shelf behind me.

“That compass belonged to my dad,” I told her. “He was a navigator in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Out at sea, he didn’t have GPS or satellite systems. Just a compass, a map, a charted course, and an ever-changing ocean.”

Naomi smiled gently. ” I haven’t used a compass since I was a kid at camp. The ever-changing ocean without a GPS is how this feels.”

“Exactly,” I said. “Life’s a lot like that. And just like he had his tools to navigate the sea, we each have a set of inner tools to navigate uncertainty.”

We began to discuss the reflection tool I often use in coaching: the Quiet Compass framework.

First, the Compass. I explained that the compass always pointed north. It didn’t give my dad the entire path, but it gave him orientation. That’s like our inner compass. It’s the quiet sense of what’s true, meaningful, or aligned. “It rarely shouts,” I told Naomi. “But when you slow down long enough to listen, you can hear it.”

She nodded. “I think I’ve been too busy to hear it.”

Second, the Map. We sketched a Life Map together, plotting the major chapters of her life, including career wins, personal transitions, and unexpected turns. “The map doesn’t predict the future,” I said. “It shows you where you’ve been, where you are, and what paths you might consider.”

She paused, then pointed to a season of her life she’d almost forgotten on the map, mentoring young professionals early in her career. “That was one of the most energizing chapters. I haven’t done anything like that in years.”

Third, the Through-Line. “Even as the scenes of your life have changed,” I said, “what motivation or value has remained constant? What’s the thread that ties it all together?”

Naomi thought for a long moment. “I think I’ve always been about creating space for people to grow. That’s what I loved about mentoring, and it’s what I miss now.”

Finally, the Currents. We named the forces that were shaping her life now, like pressures, expectations, and competing opportunities. “Some currents speed us up in the right direction,” I said. “Others pull us off course. What are you feeling right now?”

She exhaled. “Honestly, I’ve been letting other people’s expectations steer me. I don’t think that’s where my compass is pointing.”

By the end of the session, Naomi didn’t have a perfect plan, but she had a renewed orientation. She could see her past more clearly, reconnect with her purpose, and begin to notice the subtle current pulling her forward.

“I don’t need every answer,” she said. “I just need to trust the compass and take the next step.”

That’s what I hope for every leader I coach: that they learn to navigate their lives with awareness, alignment, and a little courage.

We may not control the wind or the water, but we can return to the compass, revisit the map, adjust the course, and keep the mission in view.