Planning. It’s considered to be the most important tool in order to create success. It’s also a way to ward off “surprises” that could derail us from achieving our goals. Without planning for the future, where would we be?
Perhaps we’d be a lot more mindful, present,…and happier.
I must admit that I am a planner by nature. Planning is a good thing and is necessary, but it can also become a compulsion that robs us of responding quickly and authentically to the inevitable (but unexpected) opportunities and challenges that are a part of life.
And what happens if our best formulated plans…fail? Do we respond quickly and without fear — or do we wallow in trying to figure out what went wrong, thus preventing us from moving forward?
Life is full of unanticipated serendipity — but we tend to forget this as we rigidly plan and will our futures to unfold the way that we want them to.
But maybe what we’re envisioning is not what we’re supposed to be doing. Maybe our goals are not aligned with our purpose in life.
It is tough to let go of the past — with all its assumptions, paradigms, and expectations. But why do we cling so steadfastly to past goals and overlook the new opportunities that are beseeching us to move forward to something that may be even better?
- Perhaps it’s because we don’t want to admit that we failed — but “failure” is nothing more than an opportunity to learn. We learn not only what didn’t work, but what also did work and gave us joy.
- Perhaps it’s because we’re afraid of what others will think — but nobody else is living our lives for us. When all is said and done, our lives are the results of the decisions that we have made (both “good” and “bad”).
- Perhaps it’s because the devil we know is less scary than the devil we don’t know — but life is a journey that requires movement in and out of different situations and relationships.
- And perhaps it’s because we fear that we are “too old” — regardless of our chronological age. Steadfastly continuing to put blood, sweat, and tears into something that no longer “fits” just because we think that we are “too old” to try something new just leads to resentment, depression, and burnout.
According to a Wall Street Journal article, people will change careers (not just jobs) over 7 times in their lifetimes. Some of these changes are intentional and self-directed, while others are the results of change in the work environment or industry. But those who succeed and enjoy their professional work are able to recognize that what they planned may no longer be feasible — or even desirable.
Letting go of expectations is an important tool in avoiding burnout. Yes, we’ll continue to work hard and strive for excellence. But we need to be courageous enough to admit when something is no longer working…and be willing to move on.
Dr. Geri Puleo, SPHR, is the President and CEO of Change Management Solutions, Inc., an eLearning and Coaching company focused on eradicating workplace burnout through the B-DOC Model. An entrepreneur for over 25 years, keynote speaker, author, blogger, business coach, university professor, and researcher, you can see her “in action” by watching her TEDx Talk on YouTube. To contact Dr. Puleo, please go to www.gapuleo.com.
A New Way to Work 