This post on Forget Your Life Plan was written by Jeffrey Chen. Jeffrey has a passion for sharing God’s love with those around him. He blogs at The Wayvy Life.
Has your life plan gone the way you wanted? I know mine hasn’t. During my senior year of high school, I began thinking about what I wanted to do as a career as I started applying to colleges. It was at this time that I created a vision for my life. I would major in finance at a top undergraduate program, learn how to “solve” the stock market through a secret formula, start a hedge fund in order to make millions by age 30, and then use my accumulated wealth to start my own non-profit helping underprivileged high school students live their dreams out just like I had.
While I was fortunate enough to go to a top business program at the University of Michigan, I am sorry to tell you that is as far as I have gotten and will ever get to fulfilling this plan of mine. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I was not able to “solve” the stock market. It’s pretty much impossible. However, what I didn’t see coming was my lack of interest in trying. After have a couple finance internships and taking some classes in college, I realized I had no passion for the field. Just like that, my life plan was out the window.
Ok, I know what you’re thinking. Of course your plan didn’t work out, Jeffrey. First off, it was completely unrealistic. Second, who decides their dream job without even knowing for sure that is what they are interested in? I’ll admit, those are a couple very valid points. You got me, I’m a dreamer what can I say. At the same time, I have yet to meet somebody whose life has gone exactly according to their plan, no matter how realistic or thought out it was.
And, whether we like it or not, that’s just how life is. We simply can never know for sure what the future holds. What obstacles we will encounter. What difficulties we will face. Heck, I can’t even remember the last day a single day went according to my plan. At the same time, I’ve learned that that is absolutely ok. Because despite everything that hasn’t gone my way in life so far, whether it’s a job, a relationship, a conversation, or whatever it may be, I don’t regret any of it. That’s because all of those experiences I’ve had have made who I am today, ESPECIALLY the “bad” ones. I’ve grown the most when I’ve been in great pain, I’ve met the best people during the worst of times, and I’ve had the best of times in the most awful circumstances.
Ultimately, I have learned that my life is not in my control. It was never going to go and never will go according to my life plan. It won’t be perfect. Far from it. But, it will be good. I believe God has plan for us all. Unfortunately (but actually fortunately because He knows better), His ways are not our ways. As much as we want to know why “bad” things happen to us immediately, we often don’t get the answer until much later, if we ever do. At the same time, I believe God is a God of overwhelming love who has our best interests in mind. I believe He is a Good Father who will never let us down. So, while we may not understand what He is doing at times, I trust in Him and His flow. I encourage you to do the same. To realize that while life may not always go the way you imagined it to, it is going the right way. You are exactly where you are supposed to be. So let go of trying to control everything. Forget your life plan. Instead, just go and know wherever you are is where you are meant to be.
If you like this post on Forget Your Life Plan, then you might also like:
How To Find Fulfillment In Life
Such a helpful, comforting read and reminder. Life is inherently uncertain and that is just part of it! We can plan and prepare but at the end of the day life is going to go as it does, and adjusting our attitude and reaction to things is the most important piece. Thanks for this share!