Planning is an essential part of our lives. But as we prepare for an uncertain future, do we truly need a rigid plan?
In the end, it’s about doing things our own way and finding happiness in that choice. Looking back on my life, I realize that the major decisions I made were all driven by my own path.
To be clear: I am biased in this question. As someone who isn’t particularly good at planning. For example:
When I embark on a bike trip, for instance, I simply hop on my bike and navigate from one crossroad to the next, relying on basic directions and the knowledge of my next step. Surprisingly, this approach has worked quite well for me.
How do I make sure that I don’t get lost on my way?
Sometimes, I unintentionally choose the longer route instead of the shortcut. Reflecting on my life and the decisions I’ve made, I can’t deny that mistakes were made. Yet, each decision, regardless of its outcome, has led me to where I am today.
The quality of our decisions is not defined by the outcome of them.
If you want to know more about this, I recommend that you read Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke.
So, how do I make life choices and decisions? For me, inner guidance plays a pivotal role. I rely on my intuition to figure out whether a decision feels right or not. I acknowledge that not every choice will be the best one. I have to decide knowing that I don’t have all the information I need to.
If I waited longer, a better possibility may show up. But the hardest part is if you make your life choices this way, it is not rational it is difficult to explain to somebody else. It just feels right beyond reason.
Learning from our experiences is crucial.
It’s essential to evaluate our past decisions, understanding whether they align with our values. In this way we make sure that the good decisions stay with us, and the bad ones are transformed into life lessons.
I’ve discovered that the times I felt most miserable and unhappy were when I tried to fit in or please others. Conversely, the moments I followed my intuition, regardless of the outcome, were when I felt truly happy. Every instance of following my intuition became a valuable learning experience. It’s about acknowledging that life is a process of continuous growth and learning.
Life but how to live it
In the end, it’s about doing things our own way and finding happiness in that choice. Looking back on my life, I realize that the major decisions I made were all driven by my own path.
To be able to say – I made this decision, I did it my way, it felt right for me at that time – gives me the feeling that I am the one sitting in the driver seed of my life, that I am in charge, that I am responsible for all the good and bad that happens to me.
Ultimately, that’s what truly matters.