“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
It doesn’t matter who you meet; there always seems to be tension between those who plan and those who are spontaneous. Whether it is in church or work or the neighborhood, there are those who think ahead and succeed because of that, and there are those who don’t think ahead and always seem to hit the mark. Which are you?
I am a planner, yet I see the value of spontaneity. You can’t plan for everything. Life is full of those unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes, planning is what makes a moment fully enjoyable and sometimes it is the spark of spontaneity that adds the joy. So, how does one prepare and plan without losing the flexibility to be spontaneous?
Here’s how to prepare without losing your joy.
Planning requires imagination. Being prepared is a tool to help you enjoy what actually happens, but too often we approach preparation as a tool to protect us from all the imagined negative outcomes. At least, I know I do. I’m learning a subtle perspective shift.
What if you used your planning as a tool to prepare to enjoy the moment rather than avoid a negative outcome? Imagine yourself enjoying and thriving in what you are planning for. Consider, what is necessary for you to do that? Now, add those things to your plan and imagine yourself putting those things to use. It’s a slight shift focused on what you want rather than what you don’t want.
Practical preparation sets the stage for you to enjoy the event. Putting all the details in place makes room to enjoy by removing distractions in advance. When you have already taken care of the details, you can fully enjoy the moment when it arrives. For you spontaneous types, I submit that planning can allow you to be spontaneous and fully enjoy a moment. Sometimes, thinking ahead gives you the tools you need to be spontaneous. Anticipating possible challenges will enable you to roll with them. That is, if they actually occur.
Tom and I don’t know what is ahead on our nearing trip to Alaska, but learning what the weather could be like and listening to others who have gone before us has enabled us to purchase some items we never would have considered, like rain pants to go over our regular pants and waterproof shoes since conditions are often rainy and chilly at this time of year in the locations we’ll be visiting. There’s no way we are going to stay on the ship in our cabin just because it’s raining!
I am confident that those items will allow us to enjoy rainy port calls and the spontaneous moments that arise in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Planning for a wet port call enables us to be ready to relax, be spontaneous, and enjoy the day.
Preparation is active but also requires rest. I don’t know about you, but I know that I can obsess over details when I am planning. As I mentioned, my motivation has often been to avoid problems and mistakes. But I have found that being too focused on anticipating the possible challenges leads to overload. And overload prevents enjoyment.
Planning is actually an important part of whatever it is you are preparing for. If planning is part of the event, then you want to enjoy the process of planning just as much as the event itself. Enjoying the process requires space. Giving yourself space to rest may require intentionality. Even spontaneity can lead to overload. Spontaneous people also need to recognize the need for rest.
I have learned that when I start to obsess over details, I need to set a limit for myself. I need to recognize when I have researched long enough. Then, I need to give myself permission to sit with what I have discovered before I decide what to do with it. I often feel pressured to choose what is “best.” Sometimes, just making a decision is the best decision! I am learning to set limits for myself so that obsession doesn’t steal my rest or, more importantly, my joy. What about you?
Dear friend, whatever you are looking forward to, you can plan and be spontaneous at the same time. You can plan to be spontaneous! When you are prepared through planning, you will be able to relax, rest, and enjoy whatever comes.
Both planning and spontaneity require trusting God. Trust God to show you how to plan and trust God to show you the spontaneous moments so you can fully enjoy all that He has for you.
Key Question: How can I prepare and plan without losing the ability to be spontaneous?
A Scripture to Consider: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
A YES Challenge: Take time to recognize whether you are a planner or a spontaneous person. What might God be asking you to adjust so that you can fully enjoy what He has planned for you?
Prayer: Father, You know me and how I am made. You also know what is ahead for me. Please help me to plan appropriately, but also to be ready to roll with the unexpected. I want to fully enjoy all that You have planned because Your plan is so much better than anything I can imagine. Amen.
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