Where You Are - Earnest Expedition™

For those of you who choose to press in–to engage and wrestle at a deeper level with who you are and who you want to be, the second step (after acknowledging and accepting that you exist) is soberly determining where you are in life, figuratively speaking.

In the 21^st century, many people rely on Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites (or other similar satellite-based systems) to tell us where we are in a literal sense, either through our smart phones, smart watches, or other devices synced with such satellite system(s). When I go for a run, my smart watch tracks exactly where I am at any given time by communicating with GPS satellites. When you need directions to a new restaurant, you might type in the address to your phone and your phone uses GPS satellites to guide you to your destination. The U.S. government spent billions of dollars developing and enhancing a military grade subset of this system.¹ Why spend billions and billions of dollars on such a system? Because knowing where we are at any given time is critical information. This is especially true for military applications/operations which is why the U.S. government spent so much money on the system in the first place. Truth (accurate, precise, and reliable data) is critically valuable and important in such contexts.

From a philosophical standpoint, the same logic applies with our existence as human beings. Knowing we exist and where we are (back to a figurative sense) are critical life data for our consciousness vessels. To gain meaningful knowledge for beneficial progress toward a goal initially requires getting our bearings in life. Unlike use of GPS and other systems wherein accuracy is absolutely desired for safety and security (and other reasons), when we analyze our own lives, sometimes we do not want to know what the true “readings” are. Sometimes we unconsciously or unknowingly misinterpret the applicable data when self-analyzing about where we actually are. Sometimes we see our “location” as more favorable (or more unfavorable) than the data truly indicate. Other times during self-analysis, we consciously skew the data we are encountering regarding ourselves and where we are in life because the unfiltered reality is painful or, in some cases, unbearable. This is precisely why so many people stop at this very early point in the journey and simply switch on auto-pilot mode which entails performing standard and necessary daily tasks to stay alive, employed, relevant, or otherwise take care of others for whom such persons are responsible. In the end, the goal gets simplified to the following: survive, try to be as comfortable as possible in the process, and be a decent or “good” person (doing more good than bad, as if we can somehow keep a minute-by-minute ledger that would account for such things).

What if there’s more for you? What if there’s actually radically more than you ever thought possible? Many people would agree there seems to be some counterforce that holds many of us back, that operates to neutralize our effectiveness to the greatest extent possible by, among other means, reminding us of how broken we are. If you’ve experienced this, you’re not imagining things. That is precisely what is happening. If you haven’t noticed this in the past, that might indicate you’re asleep at the wheel.

Getting through the step of accepting where you are is arguably the hardest hurdle to move past on your journey. Many (and I dare say, most) people do not get past this point. This reality is a key reason for Earnest Expedition–to call out truth and provide a means for men to work together to engage against this “counterforce” that works to keep us all sidelined. But an even greater purpose of Earnest Expedition is to help men look toward a Hope much greater than anything working against us. “Hope” is an interesting word choice here, and I know what some of you are thinking. In the 2025 major motion picture F1, Brad Pitt’s character Sonny Hayes laid down the critical line, “Hope is not a strategy.” It was a classic and critical line at that juncture in the F1 story–an effective warning against passivity. In the context of which I speak, however, the key is how one defines “hope.” If one means passively relying on “luck,” then, no, generalized hope is no substitute for a true strategy.² But that’s not how I am defining “Hope” (capital “H”) in this context. I am referring to Someone above and beyond our strategies, efforts, and plans. Once activated, you play a role in how you actively, through participation, align yourself with this Someone acting through you. The more aligned you are, the more impactful you become.

If you are interested to learn more, keep reading as we continue to post. If not, we now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

¹ https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-navigation-program/gps/#section-2 (accessed October 14, 2025).

² “Strategy” doesn’t get you there, either. The great philosopher Mike Tyson once said, “Everybody has a plan . . . .” (Look up the rest of the quote before you get punched in the mouth.)