You Need To Stop "Planning"

What did you want to be when you grow up? Did you have a clear plan on how to get there?

In elementary school, I had a clear plan:
1- finish school at 18
2- go to university
3- graduate and become an architect at 21.

In middle school, upon discovering the subject of biology, I made a similar plan to become a doctor. In high school, dealing with teenage angst and struggling with establishing myself as independent from my parents turned me onto psychology, and I made a plan to become a family therapist. In university, I made a plan to become a diplomat. Suffice it to say: Today, I am none of those things.

Am I upset about it? Absolutely not!

The context and circumstances at the time when I made those plans made sense, but contexts and circumstances change. We learn new things about ourselves and the world every day, economies crash, businesses fail, loved ones get sick or pass away, breakups and divorces happen, disaster strikes, and the list goes on.

"Those who cannot adapt do not thrive."

In my experience, having a rigid and set "plan" leads to two things: Inflexibility and frustration. When we set and follow a rigid step-by-step plan, we close ourselves to all kinds of possibilities and opportunities. The plan becomes our blinders and forces us to lock onto a singular target as if nothing else exists. But when we hit an obstacle or a delay (as plans are known to do), there is a very high chance that we will become frustrated, upset, and, in some cases, unmotivated.

I think that by this point, you know what kind of planning I'm talking about.

"Stop planning. Start outlining."

I found that a great and more productive alternative to planning is what I call outlining. Instead of creating a plan (a final draft) with detailed steps of what you want your life to be or look like, create an outline of your goals. These could be smaller and more immediate goals, bigger and long term goals (which we can call objectives), or one overarching goal (which we will call a mission). Admittedly, this process requires a certain level of reflection and introspection, but it pays off in the long run.

Once you have identified your mission, your objectives, and your goals, the work is done. Now, all you have to do is go out into the world with an open mind. Leave yourself open to possibilities and opportunities. When you find them, all you need to do is ask one simple question: Does this move me closer to my goal, objective, or mission?

With outlining, you will find yourself learning things you never thought to before, you will meet people whom you might have never met if you'd stuck to a rigid plan, you will be less frustrated and demotivated, and you will become a version of yourself that you could not have possibly imagined.

Today, my interest in architecture, medicine, psychology, and international relations is still very much alive. I read and stay informed. I seek out people working in each field and have conversations with them. Also, thanks to outlining, I have learned a lot about and experienced other fields and endeavors and met people from all walks of life. It's that flexibility and diversity that enriches my life and makes my day-to-day more interesting.

PS -- Keep an eye out for future posts about reflection and introspection.