Coaching Tip: Dancing With Unpredictability
Published on 9 Nov 2008 at 6:54 am.
7 Comments.
Filed under Business Development, Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
Creating a vision, setting goals and having objectives helps people maintain focus so that we use our time and energy effectively to make things happen. When we have a purpose and direction we know where we’re going, what we want, and what we need to do. Even with the best laid plans, things don’t always work out the way we desire and intend. Your server goes down, a check payment doesn’t arrive, an unforeseen illness, a traffic jam, a client is a no-show….
Even positive experiences can require adjustment, sometimes in a moment. An unexpected flow of new clients, a great new job offer or career opportunity, a new love interest… Life…
Test your ability to be flexible and resilient:
How attached are you to things going the way you planned?
How resistant are you to change?
Do you react and struggle against life’s unpredictability by becoming angry or depressed?
Do you view situations that don’t go the way you want as problems and obstacles or possibilities and opportunities?
Do you accept what’s happening and release your original intentions to dance with each moment with curiosity and openness?
The ability to roll with life ’s unpredictability is key to experiencing greater ease and flow in all areas of your life. In fact, if everything stayed the same day in and day out, what would your life be like? Pretty boring, right?
For example: You have a slow-down in your business that is unexpected. Initially you feel upset or worried until you realize that you can work on the book, create that new product or program that you’ve been postponing because you’ve been too busy. What originally felt like a set-back or problem can be seen as a blessing and gift!
The next time life doesn’t “cooperate” with what you want, take a deep breath and remind yourself to be curious and flexible to a new surprise and opportunity that might be coming your way! Say “Thank you” and open you heart and mind to receive what’s next.
PS. I wrote this post several days in advance and scheduled it to post today. Within an hour of finishing this article, I received an email from a colleague saying a program we’ve been preparing for a specific client to be presented in January may be cancelled due to reorganization in the company. My initial reaction was, “Shoot!” (Not really , it was something else that I won’t write). and then I stopped, took a breath, and got present. “Thank You!”
This may work out just fine and we do the program or open to something else that is preparing to come through. The prep work we’ve done so far can be repackaged and leveraged in many ways so the time involved was worthwhile. Until we know more, the possibilities are wide open!
Have a great week 
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
Gale Champion on 10 Nov 2008 at 12:43 am: 1
I’m always with plans that semm to have to be changed all the time. I’ve got to where I’m afraid to plan anything with my job because it has to be cancelled because of mother’s health. Thank you for what you said. I’m just going to say thank you and do something else.
Carol Rozek on 10 Nov 2008 at 11:47 am: 2
Very timely. A client was supposed to board his dog with us today and tomorrow. The client called this morning and canceled. Neither Sonya or I got upset. This sort of thing happens in our business and we moved on. We feel that it was meant to be, maybe so that we get so many other things done today. Who knows. The day is young and we’re ready to take on anything that comes our way. Next time I’ll even say “Thank you.”
Kim Wulfert on 10 Nov 2008 at 12:35 pm: 3
Your great article reminds me of my favorite quote from Jung- which I am probably paraphrasing-
The only thing you can’t count on not changing is change.
Learning to live with it is good for the soul and adds adventure to one’s life. Embrace it! thanks for the reminder Lorraine.
lorraine on 10 Nov 2008 at 5:43 pm: 4
Beautiful Carol
The day takes on a whole different tone when we respond and flow with things rather than judge, resist, and struggle against the moment.
lorraine on 10 Nov 2008 at 5:46 pm: 5
Well said Kim
Sage advice to remember when we’re in the “experience of life” and all we are creating.
Sara at On Simplicity on 14 Nov 2008 at 11:14 pm: 6
For the longest time, I thought I hated change. Turns out, I hate being bored more than I hate change.
Since that realization, I’ve found life to be more enjoyable. When I’m anxious, I have an easier time keying in on why on addressing it, instead of just stopping at “I’m uncomfortable with unpredictability.”
lorraine on 15 Nov 2008 at 8:28 pm: 7
Great insight Sara
Sounds like you’ve discovered that changes represents possibilities, opportunities, diversity, newness that is exciting, or stimulating? If so, that’s a great way to reframe change into an inviting experience.
Congratulations!