"يتعرف المرء على مساره من خلال اكتشاف الطرق التي تحيد عنه."

Sometimes in life, we figure out our true direction by noticing whenever we veer off it. Imagine you’re driving down a long, winding road. You think you know where you’re going, but suddenly you find yourself on a strange side street. That’s when it hits you—you’ve taken a wrong turn. That moment of realization, when you know you’re off course, actually helps you understand where you should be heading.

This idea isn't new. Throughout history, people have talked about finding direction through trial and error. Think about Thomas Edison, the guy who invented the light bulb. He famously said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Each failure was like a path that strayed from his course, but those missteps helped him figure out the right way to go.

Let’s take a real-life example—something more down-to-earth. Picture a young woman named Sarah. She’s trying to figure out her career path. She starts with a job in marketing because it seems exciting and lucrative. But after a couple of years, she feels unfulfilled. So she switches to project management, thinking maybe she needs more structure. That doesn’t work either. Finally, she takes a role as a teacher, and everything clicks. It’s not the first path she tried, but the detours helped her understand what didn’t fit, guiding her to what did.

So, what can you take away from this? Don’t stress too much when you find yourself on a path that doesn’t feel right. Those moments are actually valuable. They’re like little signposts telling you, “Not this way.” Listen to those feelings. Pay attention to the things that make you unhappy or uncomfortable. They’re clues—important ones.

A practical way to apply this wisdom is to keep a journal. Write down your experiences, your thoughts, and your feelings about different situations and paths you’ve tried. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns. Maybe you’ll notice that you’re happiest when you’re working on creative projects, or perhaps you thrive in roles where you’re helping others. These insights can help you course-correct.

Let’s put this into a relatable scenario. Think about your friend Mike. He’s got this dream of being a chef. He loves cooking, so he enrolls in a culinary school. But halfway through, he realizes that the high-pressure environment of a restaurant kitchen isn’t for him. He’s stressed out, not enjoying it at all. So he tries catering, thinking a different pace might help. Still, it’s not quite right. Finally, he starts teaching cooking classes, and he loves it. He gets to share his passion for food without the stress of a restaurant. Mike found his path by recognizing where he strayed.

In the end, remember that it’s okay—necessary, even—to make mistakes and take wrong turns. Each experience, even the ones that don’t work out, are stepping stones to finding your true path. So, next time you feel lost, don’t panic. Take a deep breath, look around, and you might just find that you’re closer to your right path than you think.