Why bad things happen to smart people? interesting question. The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley is guiding you in a simple but profound way in your decision making. Pay attention to what you pay attention to - If your intentions are good, turn them into actions if not think again and be honest with yourself -Your direction determines your destination.

1. "The Principle of the PATH”
Why bad things sometimes happen to Smart People?
Here are few tips on how to avoid this in your life
and be better in your decision making

2. Be honest and stop lying to yourself
- As long as we are lying to ourselves, it is impossible to get where we want
to be.
- You will never get to where you want to be if you don't know where you are
to begin with. Maps are useless if you don't know where you are.
- When you are willing to come clean with yourself about the uncomfortable
truth behind your choices, you're on the verge of freedom. We can never be
free as long as we're in the habit of lying to ourselves about the reasons
behind the choices we make and the paths we take.
Pause and ask yourself:
1- Why am I doing this? Really! (stop looking for excuses)
2- If someone in my circumstances came to me for advice,
what course of action would recommend
3- In light of my past experience, my future hopes and my dreams
what is the wise thing to do?

3. Seeking for other's advice:
- Learn what you can from people whose lives and lifestyles reflect your
goals and aspirations
- Successful people, people who are where you want to be, are willing to
acknowledge what they don't know; and they are not too proud to borrow
from the maps of people who do know
- Anyone who knows he doesn't know but won't go to those who do know
has a problem; and anyone who thinks she knows but won't listen to
those in position to really know has an issue as well
- Do not seek for advice from people who have not been where you want
to be; friends are great for friendship but
they aren't always great for advice giving

4. Emotions and decision making:
- Every big decision you make will have an emotional component to it
- Life is too short to allow emotions of the moment to move you in a direction
you will later regret
- Emotionally driven decision making rarely leads us down the right path;
- Emotionally charged decision making environments make it almost
impossible to gain the perspective we need to choose paths that take us where
we want to go
- Emotions are normal and natural; challenges come from the way we react
under emotions
Ask yourself: What outcome am I expecting from this decision?
Does the option I am considering naturally lead to that outcome?

5. A story to tell:
As coach, negotiator, lecturer, entrepreneur, employee, parents, student and in
everything that you want to do; prepare as if it is not just for the day rather
prepare for whatever and whomever might be in your future
-Whatever the issue you face and/or decision to make, as you consider your
options, consider what you will say about it.
-When you look back on this chapter of your life, what is the story you will want
to tell?
Pause and ask yourself:
1- Does this option violate a principle?
2- In light of the story I want to tell,
what is the wise thing to do?
As you do so, your story will show that in the midst of powerful emotion and
pressure you gained clarity and did the unusual thing, the thing that set you
apart from the herd; leading to a story you will be proud of and won't mind
repeating.

6. Attention- retention:
- Whatever or whoever it is that has captured your attention is influencing the
direction of your life
- Whatever or whoever it is that you have chosen to give your attention to is
influencing the direction of your life as well
- As your attention goes so goes your life so pay careful attention to what you are
paying attention to
-The things you give your attention to will influence the direction and destination
of everyone in your circle of influence
- If attention determines direction, and we can choose what or who gets our
attention, then that gives us a lot of leverage concerning our future
- When we pay for something, we expect to receive something of equal or higher
value in return.
And that is precisely what happens when
we pay attention to the right things.

7. Obviously,
Like the principle of the harvest, the principle of the Path will follow you
regardless of race, creed, IQ, goals, education.
You will end up where you don't want to be if you are on the wrong road and if
there is discrepancies between what you desire in your heart (intentions) and
what you are doing with your life (direction).
When someone is where he doesn't want to be, he already knows the solution
(get out of there); what he needs is direction: there is no fix for being lost what
is required is time and change of direction
The direction you are currently travelling on will determine where you end up
financially, professionally, relationally, spiritually, academically...
Strive to be in a position to choose your destination
rather than discovering it once you arrive

8. However, what if:
You realize a destination is out of reach; that a dream won't come true?
Pray “Not my will, but yours be done” and you rest in the fact that you
have done all you can... and all you should.
There is something more important than been right; that is making the
right decision
Knowing doesn't make the difference, doing does: the decisions you make
will determine the direction and the destination of your life: Chose wisely
Direction- not intention- Determines our Destination.