Whose Plan Is It, Anyway? (Part 2 of 2)
by Vanessa Wesley
first published on Oct 15, 2007
Did you miss last week’s feature article (Part 1)? Click Here
Last week we considered that plans seldom unfold the way we plan them. That is not to say we shouldn’t make plans, establish goals, or determine what we’d like the outcome to be. It simply happens, more often than not, our plans succumb to life’s unscheduled events and circumstances.
This week you’ll get some very specific guidelines for making plans and living life without a plan…and you may be surprised to find you can do both! You see creating a plan uses an entirely different kind of energy, and is motivated differently than the actual unfolding of the plan. Here is how this works. Think of something you have planned. Perhaps it is a few daily activities, or even something larger or more complicated such as a party. Now remember the kind of energy you used to develop the plan. Can you feel it?
Planning usually comes with desire—a desire for the particular outcome or result. There is an intensity and intention that springs forth while making a plan. There also is considerable mental energy in planning as you determine the steps needed to foster the outcome or result you want. It can be a lot of fun making plans, visualizing the goal, and setting up the steps and incremental actions needed to realize the end result. Some people love to make “things to do” lists and watch as items get crossed off as they are completed. There is a feeling of accomplishment and success when what we desire to get done actually gets done. Developing plans this way, with vigor and desire can be a very enjoyable experience.
Then life happens, right? Like last week, when I told you about “planning” my day of writing only to end up at an accident scene, which threw the entire day’s schedule out of kilter. This week I planned to attend a wedding reception. However, my daughter ended up with no ride to her High School Homecoming dance… and, you guessed it… I chauffeured her, and missed the reception. The difference is, a few years ago I would have been bummed out. Perhaps, even angry or resentful that she didn’t plan her activities better! However, I was thrilled. Yes, thrilled. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to unfold; what was going to be even better than my plans.
Here’s the secret to making plans and living life without a plan.
Make your plans with full desire and intention. Visualize your outcome and results clearly. Fully participate in the planning! Get a cup of tea, or coffee, and sit down and really write them out, stick your activities on a calendar, and map out the results you desire to achieve. Do this with intensity and intention. See yourself having already accomplished the goal. When you are done… drop it.
Why do you drop it afterwards? Because…
The energy you use to make your plans IS NOT the same energy that drives the plan forward!
Planning arises from a strong desire within you, a natural longing for the goal. Actualization of the plan occurs from the realm of the Whisper, when you choose to recognize and follow it. Actualization and manifestation of your goals becomes form, and materializes from the invisible potential of all that is, mixed with the essential nature of who you are and what it is you truly desire.
You see, within us is a true desire—to align with and connect to the essence of our being. We really desire that our life unfolds for us with peace and with joy, right? We desire that what we want in the material realm is brought to us effortlessly and joyfully. We desire to know God, the peace of our being. Underneath all the “things” we say we want is what we believe and hope will bring us joy and peace and aliveness! What we really plan for is the actualization of a life that is abundant and clear. And, this can’t be planned. The alignment and partnership with your essential Whisper comes from following the sensations of peace, joy, and certainty (rightness) within you, as they arise within you, even if they seem to contradict your plans!
Goals are a means to the Whisper. Give yourself the Whisper first!
So here’s how I could be thrilled even though I missed the wedding reception. And folks, this wasn’t just any old wedding reception. The wedding party had secured the entire Detroit African American Museum, a mega multi-million dollar facility, for the event! I was thrilled because I had done everything I could do to actualize the plan. I had set aside the date. I had RSVP’d the invitation. I had even gotten a ride for my daughter. But here’s the secret… It didn’t FEEL RIGHT! There was no internal movement or Urge or energy to continue with MY plans!
I felt energy and aliveness when I thought about staying home and doing make-up with my daughter, shopping for shoes, having lunch, doing her hair, and staying close-by just in case things didn’t turn out so well and she needed a quick ride home. So I followed that. I followed the Whisper— the sensations within that spoke through the feelings of inner peace and heightened energy.
After I dropped her off, I spent over two-hours at Starbucks with the PLAN to do some writing. That didn’t happen either. Instead, a truly remarkable event took place! Would you like to know how Wonderment and Knowing (two of the Six Distinct ways to recognize the Whisper) showed up at Starbucks? Jump over to my blog for the complete story.
You see, what happened ultimately could not be planned, yet the evening turned out way better than I could have planned it anyway! I met a new friend, and we talked away the hours as both our daughters attended their first Homecoming.
When I picked my daughter up, she jumped in the car exclaiming, “Mom, I had such a good time! I danced all night long!” My heart sang even while I wondered how she could possibly dance all night in THOSE shoes!
Not a single “plan” was actualized that day. But my true heart’s desires were manifested, perfectly and on time.
So, whose plan is it anyway? Hmmm… I’ll let you decide.
Here are 3 Simple Steps for Planning to Live Life without a Plan, and get it ALL Done Anyway:
Plan your plans. Make your plans with zest and zeal. Write them out clearly and with as much detail as you wish. Visualize the actualization of your plans. Go ahead and love your plans; design them with intention and intensity. Allow your natural desires to arise up and “dictate” your goals and plans. When planning is done with enthusiasm, focus, and joy it can be so much fun.
Drop your plans. The “planning” stage is completed at this point. At this stage it is important, although often overlooked, that you shift your energy and attention to following the sensations of the Whisper— openness, peace, certainty, neutrality, joy, energy—to guide your actions. Allow the details and visualization you established in the planning phase to guide your next steps, but remain open and flexible to listening inside for the sensations and energy from your inner guidance. Move where your energy takes you. In this phase, the energy, zest, and zeal you used to create your plans gives way to allowing and spontaneity. You continue to move toward your goals yet you have released the attachment to them and now act spontaneously, not deliberately.
Live your life. Our goals are established to give us what we think will bring us closer to our Whisper. Live from the Whisper NOW! Use the sensations of Inner Guidance to guide your actions, and then take them as they arise within you. Act on your promptings and watch how the inner desires of your heart unfold, naturally and perfectly. Notice that all you wanted to get done does get done, right on time! Notice how what wasn’t necessary simply falls away. Notice how what actually does happen is even better than what you planned, yet it was your plans that motivated and sparked the unfolding.
Plan your life. Live it without the plan.
Please let us know how living your life following the “plans” of your Whisper works out for you by writing Vanessa@YourEssentialWhisper.com.
To get more details on how to recognize, trust, and follow your essential Whisper visit Get Your Free Chapter of Your Essential Whisper, a multi-media e-book right now!
