What is “True North?”
SEEK’s logo is a compass. Throughout history, explorers have used a compass to find their way. The compass always points to true north, allowing the user to orient themselves in space, knowing where east, south and west are located. Once oriented, the explorer can then choose his/her direction. 
It is interesting that in today’s world few people understand the purpose or usefulness of a compass. When getting directions, most people use a mobile app, Google maps, Siri, or GPS. Today’s traveler relies on an electronic voice to give direction. However, sometimes even Siri gets lost, missing construction or new roads or even telling you you have reached your destination when you are still in the middle of a highway (that has happened to me on more than one occasion). The cool thing about consulting a compass is that it doesn’t get confused; true north is a constant.
Getting Lost in Self-help
When seeking direction in our lives for business and personal growth, we need accurate information to choose the best path. Our core values and beliefs serve as our metaphoric “true north,” helping us choose a direction that is true to who we are. Has the importance of determining our “true north” been forgotten? Are today’s “gurus” the “Siri” of personal growth, pushing seekers to go in a specific direction, meanwhile omitting important information, providing misleading instructions or simply ignoring each person’s unique identity and history?
by Nicolas Figueroa Peña on Flickr
SEEK as a Guide
SEEK stands for Self Empowerment through Education and Knowledge. Our goal at SEEK Safely is not to tell the seeker what direction to choose, but to provide information to help seekers better orient themselves when going on a journey of personal or professional development.
- We want to make consumers aware of the unregulated nature of the self-help industry and provide information about the signs of potential danger–those “red flags” to consider when choosing self-help events, programs, and materials.
- We also offer information about proven methods of change.
- With The Promise, we offer providers of self-help the opportunity to make a public statement of intent to practice in a safe and ethical manner so that consumers can make an informed choice rather than an assumption about which providers are safe.
Find Your Truth North
But the most important piece of advice we can offer you, the seeker, is the reminder to stay true to yourself. Keep your values and beliefs in the front of your mind as you make decisions for growth, and use SEEK’s tools as a guide through the busy and potentially dangerous self-help world. Find your “true north” to navigate your way through your journey of growth and change! Featured image by Luis Perez on Flickr
