A tale of two planners

In the red corner:

I can hear you yelling at me

“This is absolute BS. I am in control of my life. I decide. I plan. I execute. I enjoy. I do things that give me pleasure. I am in control. Growwwwll!!!”

OK. OK. Calm down.

Here is what you can do to prove it to me. Right now!

Take a piece of paper. Write down all the thoughts you plan to have for the next 10 minutes.

Done?

Put the pen down.

Now think only those precise thoughts, without any deviations.

I know it will be easy. After all, it’s just 10 minutes of your life that you are planning for.

Let me know how you go.

 

Reflect:

If your decisions and plans are based on your thoughts
and you can’t control the arising of your thoughts for even 10 minutes
how good are the decisions and plans you make all your life?

 

In the blue corner:

“My life has gone down the tube. I had big plans; but then, I lost my job and my mortgage payments are now overdue. I feel I have let my family down and I am losing all sense of purpose. My life is a failure”

I can feel your pain.

Please accept my virtual hug, my friend.

You can see clearly now.

What failed was your plan. Not your life.

And what is a plan but a series of well-meaning intentions?

They do not have any power over you, nor can they change what you really are – even the slightest.

Life flows; it always has

It’s our mind that assigns the meaning to whatever happens.

Life flows on without success or failure.

So, see them equally now. You’ll realize for yourself that they have no power over you.

Now, get back on your feet. And get back to your life.