In Charles Dickens’ famous story A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by three ghosts: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. These three ghosts came to Scrooge to open his eyes and enlighten him about the true nature of his past, his present, and his future.
Scrooge’s worldview was distorted, and he was on a path to a miserable future. The ghosts helped him achieve clarity, and Scrooge was able to decide on a better path. It changed his life.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much chance of three ghosts showing up in our own lives to put us on the right path. Luckily, we can run a little thought experiment to help us gain clarity for ourselves.
Ask yourself three questions.
- What would the Ghost of Christmas Past show you?
- What would the Ghost of Christmas Present show you?
- What would the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come show you?
Try to see things as the ghosts would see them, which means from an outsider’s perspective. Sometimes it is difficult to think clearly about ourselves. The ghosts that visited Scrooge didn’t sugarcoat reality. They showed him a brutally honest vision of his reality. As harsh as it was, it was the most compassionate thing that they could do for him. We need to apply this same type of brutal honesty to our own lives if we want to change our paths.
The Ghost of Christmas Present can provide clarity about the reality of your current condition. The Ghost of Christmas Past can enlighten you about how you got here. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come can show you where your current path is taking you.
Do you like what you see?
If not, never fear. Instead, listen to Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven:
“Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There’s still time to change the road you’re on.”
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