Find Your True North (The Friday Ficks S5 E11)

The plane departed at 5:55 p.m., bound for Florida.

From my seat in 15A, I had a clear view out the left window - east - watching the sky darken with every passing mile.

Somewhere over the Carolinas, I glanced up from my book and caught sight of a breathtaking crimson sky. Stunning. But also… disorienting.

Wait a minute. The sun sets in the west.

Yet here I was, watching it set from my left-side window, which should have been facing east.

Something wasn’t right.

Had we turned around? Was there a medical emergency? A mechanical issue? The flight crew was calm and quiet - no announcements were made.

I tapped my seatback screen to check the flight tracker. Sure enough, our plane had done a full 180. Then, just as suddenly, we banked again, turning south once more. Back on course.

And then it dawned on me - the plane’s maneuver represents the disorienting times we currently live in.

Government shutting down - then not. Peace talks happening - then not. Tariffs imposed - then lifted. Foreign aid paused - then resumed. Egg prices soaring - then dropping.

One minute, we think we know where we’re headed. And the next, we’re questioning everything.

In moments like these, it’s easy to feel lost. But just like the setting sun oriented me in that crimson sky, we all need something steady to ground us - our own internal compass, our values, our purpose.

So how do you find your true north?

Start with your values - not the ones you think you should have, but the ones that truly guide you. If everything else fell away, what would still matter? Integrity? Kindness? Courage? Write them down. Own them.

Next, pay attention to what fuels you versus what drains you. The things that make you feel most alive - mentoring, creating, problem-solving - are signposts. True north isn’t on a seatback screen map; it’s felt in your gut. Trust it.

Finally, build habits that realign you when life pulls you off course. A morning walk, journaling, or a quiet pause before a big decision - small, steady practices to keep you grounded. Stay anchored, and you’ll never be lost.

When the world feels upside down, find your true north. It’ll make for smoother flying in the days ahead.

Own the day. Own the weekend.

Carl