Many of us have wondered, what is the plan for my life? Some believe that there is no plan save what we forge for ourselves, while others place their faith in a higher power. Is there a plan, or are we the agents of our future? That’s the thought that has been on my mind the last few weeks.
It is easier to believe that I create my own path; that the decisions and directions I choose dictate the course of my life. The only challenge to this belief is the frequency with which my plans, as the poet Robert Burns said, “gang aft aglay” or for those unfamiliar with this reading, “go oft astray”. Sometimes, no matter how much I wish that something would manifest, it simply does not. My expectations remain unmet, and as stubborn as I can be, after repeated attempts I eventually conclude that I must find a different path forward. My goal may remain unchanged but it becomes obvious I am not going to get to my destination by the route I chose.
Is this the Universe telling me something? In a word, yes. Some people go through their lives in a purely reactive way. A situation presents itself, a career choice, an attraction to someone, a life decision at the crossroad, and they take whichever course seems present at the moment. They give little thought to the consequence of their decision and what outcome lies ahead. It is a superficially attractive way to live—but profoundly foolish. This approach neither accepts responsibility, nor entertains the idea that we are in any way in charge of what may occur. It is a path to seeing oneself as a victim of fate.
The alternative—choosing a path but assuming that we alone are captains of our destiny seems equally ill informed. We live in a complex and evolving world. Choices come our way in a ceaseless flow, but what we choose and what options are presented are far beyond our control.
I’ve spent a lot of time walking in the woods, on trails and off, places where there is a path and where there are no blazes to show the way forward. It is a lot like life. There are times when it is best to just enjoy the surroundings and surrender oneself to confidence in a benign outcome. Other times our experience acts as the guide—reminding us of what we have learned and helping us make the best choice when there is no clear directional sign. If we keep our heads about us, we won’t get lost. The worst that happens is that we may have to backtrack a bit before we can find the right way forward.
In the midst of such a situation the key is to trust in our experience and in a positive outcome. When we let go of our willful choices and reactive instincts, the way forward is so much easier to recognize. It presents itself in the stillness of the moment, in a way that we can never see if we are forcing the decision. Does that mean that there is a plan we would be wise to follow? Experience tells me that the answer is yes, otherwise we may just end up walking in circles.