According to plan.
We cling to these words like gospel. We strive to stay on schedule, on point, on task. To proceed down the path we’re intended to follow.
If everything goes according to plan, life is good. But all too often, it doesn’t. After all, the saying goes, “God laughs at your plans.”
When things go awry, we find ourselves in a world of trouble. Suddenly, we have 99 problems and can’t even solve one.
Why do we put ourselves through this dance? In part because we can’t bear the alternative.
We can’t stand to live in the moment.
There’s a stigma to living in the moment. One that states those who choose to live this way must throw all cares and responsibilities away.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Sure, there are some people who approach life with a Key West attitude. But most people don’t have that luxury. Most people have families, occupations and other pressing concerns to tend to.
Yet even with these concerns, these people can adopt a Live in the Moment mentality — assuming they approach it the right way.
How so?
By following the Read and React framework.
If you’ve played chess — or football — you’re likely familiar with the Read and React framework. It requires looking at the situation around you and then reacting accordingly in the moment.
While Read and React doesn’t prepare you for what’s coming ahead of time, it does the next best thing. It helps you control the outcome.
By practicing these principles time and again, we become more proficient at reacting to an increasing number of situations — or Reads, if you will. We become seemingly unflappable and action-driven.
Even in the wake of unpredictable outcomes, we can remain prepared. Prepared to respond. Prepared to capitalize. Prepared to lead.
Many of us practice the Read and React framework in our occupations — particularly if we work in a volatile profession. For example, I used it daily while working as a TV news producer. Practicing the framework helped me better adjust to the unpredictable nature of news — and therefore become better at my job.
So why not carry the same principles over to our lives?
After all, everyday life is chock full of unpredictability. Aside from the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, it’s one of the few things we can count on.
Why waste our energy and effort planning every detail of our lives? All that guarantees us is angst and stress when things inevitably go off track.
Instead, why don’t we live in the moment? Why don’t we change our approach to read what’s going on around us and then react accordingly?
It takes less effort to do this than it does to make plans that might never come to fruition. And we’ll be better prepared to handle life’s frequent surprises with poise and precision.
This process will make us more Zen. More relaxed. More pleasant to be around.
In short, it will lead to more positive outcomes.
What’s not to like?
Now, of course, we can’t live in the moment all the time. Planning remains critical for several aspects of our lives.
But let’s keep it to that.
Let’s plan only in situations where it’s only absolutely necessary, and Read and React to everything else.
We’ll be better for it.