Do You Have a PLAN?

Hello from S Oregon! Two weeks from today I intend to be a little farther south, in the Los Angeles area as I begin my eastbound drive. I thought I was going to make this trip nearly six months ago ... and then, life happened! It's been a wonderful, unexpected change of events and now, I have another "plan". I'll keep you in the loop as to how that goes!

But, speaking of "plans" ... there's an old, Yiddish proverb, "We plan, God laughs". There's even a book by that title by Sherre Hirsch about things having a way of turning out that's not quite as expected. However, that does not mean we should throw all plans out the door!

As an RN and a Life Support Coach, I talk to people all the time about their health and wellness. While total well-being includes many facets, two that often come up are weight (both gaining and losing) and exercise. As I discuss their dissatisfactions as well as what they truly desire, one thing that is missing in many cases is a PLAN. Another quote that comes to mind around this is attributed to Benjamin Franklin:

"By failing to plan, you are preparing to fail."

If we say we want something and we don't design a way to get it, we'll probably have pretty poor results. It's like creating a map. If I want to get to the east coast later this month and I want to visit some friends along the way, I need to plot out my itinerary. If I decided to simply leave and drive, maybe going a little south, maybe heading mostly away from the Pacific and toward the Atlantic, I could end up in any number of places and most likely, not where I really want to be. Here's one way to move toward success:

P - identify your Project. What do you want to accomplish? Describe it in living color with lots of detail. The more specific you get, the better your outcome.
L - Listen to your Soul. What do you really want? What would you Love to see change, improve, make you feel more confident and stronger?
A - Ask for help. There is almost nothing that I have done well in my life that I did not have some assistance and support with. I have to "do" the work on my own and I get it done with my cheerleaders and gentle taskmasters/guides.
N - Navigate whatever system you create and remember that it's helpful to put in Non negotiables or deal-breakers as part of your system of accountability. Figure out exactly what you Need to get what you want. Remember that this plan might include a certain amount of New behavior and don't forget to Nurture and Nourish yourself along the way.

When we ignore the concept of a Plan, we usually end up going in circles and not getting anywhere near our goal. While I mentioned weight and exercise at the beginning, this idea of a blueprint can be used in nearly everything. Of course, sometimes, the PLAN doesn't always go as planned. This is an opportunity to stop, take a few breaths, reassess and rechart the course. Let yourself be open to something even better. Figure out what you want, go for it, and, as always, be care-full. Having trouble with a Plan for something in your life? It's amazing how much clarity you can get when you have someone in your corner helping you out. Contact me for a complementary Discovery Session and see what I mean!