It was John Lennon who said, “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” A more relevant quote could not sum up the truth about our lives more eloquently or emphatically. Plans make excellent skeletons around which we can build the body of our work. Plans need to have room for growth and the flexibility to accommodate change.
Learning to expect the unexpected is crucial in a world that functions at warp speed, throwing us uncontrollable conditions constantly. The only thing we can really rely on is that change is the one true constant. Understanding how to work with these various deviations from the plan will actually make us more productive, leave us better prepared, and less stressed. The old saying, “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade”, rings so loud and clear in reference to our uncontrollable conditions here on planet earth.
When we allow life to present itself, it does, in full living color, like one gigantic stage show in progress. Sometimes a good front row seat is far more interesting and enlightening than starring in the lead role. Let life’s players, performers, and portrayers to present themselves in full character, uninterrupted by us.
In time, all things sorts themselves out, evolving to become either more or less important and influential in our lives than we originally believed. Building our awareness skills, so that we can absorb and understand our immediate surroundings, is essential. Environmental sensitivity is another key, that will unlock the doors to us knowing just what is required in each situation life places us.
While we work towards our goals, a clear picture of our intended destination will provide an excellent road map of which way to head. The journey, however, will unfold as we travel, revealing the characters and events, that will tell the whole story. Think of it like a trip across the country, where you have nothing but time and the open road. And where the plan of not having a plan is the greatest freedom you ever hope to experience.
