I saw a quote recently on TinyBuddha on FB that said, “I would like to publicly announce that I have no idea what I’m doing.” I slapped a big ole ❤️ on that one.
I too, like to make this announcement. I do it, not frequently, but I try to leave bits and hints of my real life in my blog and social media presence. It’s important to me, partly just to be honest but also to help others understand that it is normal, acceptable and probably even a good thing that many of us from time to time feel unsure about what our next steps should be.
A recent conversation with a friend/client covered this same topic. We were talking about job searching and that question interviewers often like to ask, “So where do you see yourself in five years.” “Well, have not freeking idea but hope I’m happy”, would be my honest but not socially or professionally correct in some circles.
As a meditation teacher and wellness advocate, I see people’s stress and anxiety clearly. The idea that we have some control over where we’ll be in five years is a great stressor in our times. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have goals or direction, intentions and hopes. I am suggesting that we should not engrave these goals and direction in concrete because, guess what, people, things change.
Life brings us new insights and clarity, new input and options on a daily basis. We, as open, adaptable, intelligent humans should respond to this new data as it arrives. So based on that premise, with new choices and ideas arriving all the time, why so much value placed on “THE PLAN.”
I try to formulate my idea of what I should do daily, perhaps hourly, as life reveals herself to me. To you planners, this might sound terrifying but breathe with me for a minute. I do actually have a plan that I could engrave in concrete. That plan is:
- To be my best self as often as I can
- To remember that there are two responses to every situation; the loving response and the fearful response. I promise to try to choose the loving response
- To spend at least part of my energy (time and money) helping other people be their best selves.
So, if you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, rest in the fact that you’re not alone. None of us can know what tomorrow will bring. You can, however, always practice pausing when some new situation arises. Take a deep breath when life surprises you. Then open your heart, shove fear aside and take the most loving action available to you.
If I ever find myself in a job interview again, and my potential employer asks me where I think I’ll be in five years, I hope to respond, “ I plan to be a better, kinder, happier, more loving person.”
Think I’ll get the job?