Embrace the Unexpected

[tconnor]

Life Success Tips #226
Embrace the Unexpected

The only thing that is certain in life is its uncertainty. Unfortunately many people fail to grasp this simple yet profound concept. Years ago I read a great book by Dan Millman called The Way of The Peaceful Warrior. In it Dan wove many principles and concepts into this thought-provoking story. One that really hit me at the time was the simple premise of - embracing the unexpected and releasing the expected.

Let’s say for a moment that you have a personal attachment to a specific goal or plan. As you begin to implement your plan and move toward your goal you discover that things are just not turning out quite like you would have hoped. They could be even falling apart at the seams. They could also be heading towards total disaster, one that you never saw coming or didn’t anticipate. Been there folks, many times.

One of the most difficult things for people to do is to let go or surrender to outcomes they didn’t want or don’t like. John Lennon said it best over twenty years ago, “Life is what happens to you as you are planning your life.” I am working on a new book and the working title is, I never Thought My Life Would Turn Out This Way. In it I discuss why people experience highs and lows in life and how the outcomes of these at the time, seemed out of sync with their desires or expectations. But, as time rolled on many of these people, when they looked back on these circumstances or experiences found that the previous perceived negatives were positive and the positives were negative.

The truth is, that no one can predict:

• Who will cross your path
• A health challenge
• Un-planned for luck
• An economy that challenges your dreams
• Other people’s agendas
• A financial upset
• A career change
• A business failure

There are more, but on to the point....

It is vital that you develop a strategy for anticipating the unexpected. It is critical that you learn to let go and put closure on a failed plan, goal that you are no longer passionate about, a relationship that is over or any other life experience that you can do little about other than whine, moan, blame, point your finger or carry around for years after it is over.

• What has recently happened in your life that you never expected?
• Who is now in your life that you never saw them coming?
• What goals or plans are you holding on to that you no longer are excited about?
• What positive or negatives have happened in your career or business that you didn’t anticipate?
• If you knew then what you know now would you have done anything differently?
• If you could know what is in your future would you really want to know?
• Has any disappointment caused you to lose your passion or purpose?
• There are dozens more questions I could ask you, but you will only benefit if you do some of the work. So why not answer the above questions and then develop some of your own.

Keep your eye on the ball, stay focused on your goals, make plans but be willing to accept that you can’t control every aspect of anything so you may as well just relax and enjoy the ride.