One major thing we tend to believe is that we have everything under control because we’ve made plans. And we think, “Now my life is under control.”
Because when we make plans, we often feel like we’ve got it all figured out and everything will work out just fine. And that simply executing them will make our lives better.
But really, does making plans guarantee us having a hitch-free ride? Are there no cosmic hindrances that could spring up at random amidst our well-composed and executable strategies, to put a halt to it or derail us?
If those exist, then maybe we don’t have as much control as we think we do. But should that make us resort to not planning and just winging it through life? I think not.
Plans give structure. Maybe with structure comes an illusion of control, but that’s not the main reason for their existence. They are meant to help us navigate through life despite the colossal fuck yous the universe has in store for us.
Plans serve as guardrails to stop us from totally going off track. That’s different from being in control. A lot of things will happen to propel us towards a desired destination or throw us off balance.
The point of planning is to ensure we don’t lose sight of where we are going. To find our balance and reorient ourselves when the storms subside.
And that’s why you and I should make plans. A proper understanding of the purpose of plans will better inform the planning process, our expectations and how to react when the plan fails.
