COLUMN: Planning and preparation is the key to happiness
Dan Kravitz
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Perspectives
Life takes planning. So often we have experiences that we could never conceive of. We see and do things that we never really imagined. Sometimes we are caught by surprise and have to "improvise" how we handle things. New things happen all the time. This is where learning comes from; all of those little unexpected moments. But times like these do not negate the need to make plans for our future.
The Boy Scouts are famous for their motto, "Be prepared." A good plan is like the foundation of a building. Without it, the building will eventually crumble and fall. Too often human beings just assume that everything will work out just the way they hoped. Life rarely works like that. A plan of action can help to avoid, or at the very least manage, life's many pitfalls.
Being proactive is the key. Just because we want a particular thing to be a certain way does not ensure that it will. The world does not conform to our wishes. It is especially when we delude ourselves into thinking that a particular situation will turn out in a particular way is when we are most apt to be disappointed. A proactive nature can and will help to ensure our happiness. What do I mean by being proactive?
Being proactive means taking the initiative to find out the reality of a situation. Want some examples? How about a day that you and a special someone decide to take a nature walk? You imagine the two of you holding hands and smiling as you enjoy the scenery. Suddenly it starts to rain and rain hard. What you imagined to be a romantic stroll through the woods, in reality, becomes a run through the rain and two people jumping into a car while soaking wet. If you had checked the weather report before leaving, you might have avoided wet clothes and a ruined trip. Who knows? Maybe the two of you would have been happy to cuddle under an umbrella if only you had thought to bring one.
Another possible scenario is this: You have been invited to a picnic by a close friend, there will be many others there and therefore plenty of food. You are a vegetarian and really do not like anything meat-based. You tell yourself that there should be something that you can eat once you arrive. When you get to the picnic you see that it is a barbeque and the only food you see came from an animal. The last thing you planned on was starving while others feasted. If you had called ahead to verify if vegetarian choices would be offered you would not be in this mess. The host might have made a dish just for you had they known you were a vegetarian. You might have taken the initiative and brought one to share with others had you known. After others enjoyed your dish, you might have even converted a few people to the lifestyle which you enjoy as you explain to them the health benefits of an all-vegetable diet.
What it all comes down to is this: Do not assume that all our hopes will simply manifest as we wish. Planning and preparation is the key to happiness. It still takes flexibility when plans change. Being able to go with the flow is a sign of wisdom. Going with that flow still takes a plan. Whether it is upstream or down, whether you use a proverbial oar or paddle, you must still be ready to row along with the currents of life. No matter how you get there I hope you never get stuck on the reef!
The Boy Scouts are famous for their motto, "Be prepared." A good plan is like the foundation of a building. Without it, the building will eventually crumble and fall. Too often human beings just assume that everything will work out just the way they hoped. Life rarely works like that. A plan of action can help to avoid, or at the very least manage, life's many pitfalls.
Being proactive is the key. Just because we want a particular thing to be a certain way does not ensure that it will. The world does not conform to our wishes. It is especially when we delude ourselves into thinking that a particular situation will turn out in a particular way is when we are most apt to be disappointed. A proactive nature can and will help to ensure our happiness. What do I mean by being proactive?
Being proactive means taking the initiative to find out the reality of a situation. Want some examples? How about a day that you and a special someone decide to take a nature walk? You imagine the two of you holding hands and smiling as you enjoy the scenery. Suddenly it starts to rain and rain hard. What you imagined to be a romantic stroll through the woods, in reality, becomes a run through the rain and two people jumping into a car while soaking wet. If you had checked the weather report before leaving, you might have avoided wet clothes and a ruined trip. Who knows? Maybe the two of you would have been happy to cuddle under an umbrella if only you had thought to bring one.
Another possible scenario is this: You have been invited to a picnic by a close friend, there will be many others there and therefore plenty of food. You are a vegetarian and really do not like anything meat-based. You tell yourself that there should be something that you can eat once you arrive. When you get to the picnic you see that it is a barbeque and the only food you see came from an animal. The last thing you planned on was starving while others feasted. If you had called ahead to verify if vegetarian choices would be offered you would not be in this mess. The host might have made a dish just for you had they known you were a vegetarian. You might have taken the initiative and brought one to share with others had you known. After others enjoyed your dish, you might have even converted a few people to the lifestyle which you enjoy as you explain to them the health benefits of an all-vegetable diet.
What it all comes down to is this: Do not assume that all our hopes will simply manifest as we wish. Planning and preparation is the key to happiness. It still takes flexibility when plans change. Being able to go with the flow is a sign of wisdom. Going with that flow still takes a plan. Whether it is upstream or down, whether you use a proverbial oar or paddle, you must still be ready to row along with the currents of life. No matter how you get there I hope you never get stuck on the reef!
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