Due to people persistently telling us to plan things out, we wrongly believe that life revolves around planning and only that. When our plans don't go as we intended, we stress out, we panic, and we don't know what to do. Life seems like it stops for a while when our plans fail on us, or worse, when we don't have a plan at all.
But would if I told you that you can train your brain to accept failure and uncertainty in regard to your future plans? Well, you can!
An Unrevealed Path is a Path.
In the beginning, realizing that you don't have a plan set in place, or that you've formulated an unsuccessful plan and have nothing to fall back on, can be daunting. In your head, you start thinking that your lack of a plan correlates with a meaningless life.
Something I've learned over the years, however, is that being on the "right path" doesn't always imply that everything is going your way. Rather, the "right path" is the path you are on now: the path you are meant to currently be on. Even if you don't think you're on a "path" at all, you are always on one or headed towards one.
While you have the power to put yourself on that so-called "right path," sometimes life has ways of putting you on a bumpy road, and it has its reasons. Being scared, uncertain, or confused on your current path in life is not a great feeling. Nevertheless, it's the path you must accept at your current stage in life, even if your goal is to change it.
Something I've learned over the years, however, is that being on the "right path" doesn't always imply that everything is going your way. Rather, the "right path" is the path you are on now: the path you are meant to currently be on. Even if you don't think you're on a "path" at all, you are always on one or headed towards one.
While you have the power to put yourself on that so-called "right path," sometimes life has ways of putting you on a bumpy road, and it has its reasons. Being scared, uncertain, or confused on your current path in life is not a great feeling. Nevertheless, it's the path you must accept at your current stage in life, even if your goal is to change it.
The Beauty of Ignorance
Although it's often nice to be prepared and know what's next on your plate, sometimes not knowing can be the best thing for you.
Imagine knowing each and every one of your life successes and failures – before you even make them. Imagine knowing since the ripe age of five that one day, you'd become a firefighter, get married to someone named Peyton at the age of 25, have two children named Rocky and Jacklyn, and win the lottery at the age of 40. Imagine always knowing what will be, already knowing your full life story. Imagine the life you live is a movie you've already watched before a million times, and you already know what exactly will be done and said in the next scene, and in the scene after that, and so on. Pretty boring, right?
When I tell other people to embrace the path of uncertainty, they often counter back saying that there are some things that they wish they knew. They want to peer into the future like a fortune teller. They claim it would make their lives so much easier.
In reality, ignorance can be beautiful. If we know for a fact we will win a million dollars in, say, 10 years, we will be gliding through life just waiting for that moment, counting down the days one by one. When that moment comes, we may find that we don't appreciate it much. We feel like we didn't earn it. We already knew it was going to happen, so why should we treat it like it's something special?
Sometimes not knowing how our life will play out is what makes life exciting. It's what gets us up in the morning. Life should be like like reading a book you've never read before; you want to keep on reading to find out what happens next.
Imagine knowing each and every one of your life successes and failures – before you even make them. Imagine knowing since the ripe age of five that one day, you'd become a firefighter, get married to someone named Peyton at the age of 25, have two children named Rocky and Jacklyn, and win the lottery at the age of 40. Imagine always knowing what will be, already knowing your full life story. Imagine the life you live is a movie you've already watched before a million times, and you already know what exactly will be done and said in the next scene, and in the scene after that, and so on. Pretty boring, right?
When I tell other people to embrace the path of uncertainty, they often counter back saying that there are some things that they wish they knew. They want to peer into the future like a fortune teller. They claim it would make their lives so much easier.
In reality, ignorance can be beautiful. If we know for a fact we will win a million dollars in, say, 10 years, we will be gliding through life just waiting for that moment, counting down the days one by one. When that moment comes, we may find that we don't appreciate it much. We feel like we didn't earn it. We already knew it was going to happen, so why should we treat it like it's something special?
Sometimes not knowing how our life will play out is what makes life exciting. It's what gets us up in the morning. Life should be like like reading a book you've never read before; you want to keep on reading to find out what happens next.
Saying "Yes" to Failure
Let's be honest; there's not a single person on this planet who loves to fail. Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, "I can't wait to fail today!" In fact, a majority of us dread failure. Some of us don't just dread it; we are frightened about even the thought of it. Sound familiar?
The fear of failure is exactly why the majority of us want so desperately to find out what our life will consist of. Who will we marry? Will we ever have children? What will our first home look like? Will we ever be financially successful? When will our life end? Casual curiosities like these often become obsessive, full-blown fears.
Ironically, having fears of failure encourages avoidant behaviors, leading us to an even more uncertain life. Rather than applying for that job, we avoid it for fear we'll blunder the interview. Instead of taking the risk of starting our own business, we might never make our dreams come true if we fear potential instability and unsuccessfulness.
The truth is, being vulnerable and putting ourselves "out there," even if failure is a possibility, could potentially lead to some great things. Maybe by applying for that job, you'll end up with it. Maybe by starting the business of your dreams, you'll be surprised to find that it's becoming a very successful venture.
Wise people have said before that when you avoid an opportunity, you're putting yourself in a position where what you want will never be granted; it's never going to just fall on your doorstep. When you take that opportunity, however, there's the probability that things may, in fact, go in your favor. That's the main difference between taking a chance and avoiding a chance.
Although the probability of success comes the probability of failure, in the end, sometimes our failures bring us the most knowledge, expertise, understanding, and lessons than our successes. Sometimes we need failure to realize something about ourselves, what we really want in life, or what matters the most to us. Sometimes we fail because the timing is off. Sometimes we fail because it wasn't meant for us. Sometimes we fail because it makes it clear to us what path we really should be on. Either way, there are reasons for everything. To fear failure is to fear progress, wisdom, and our true path in life.
"Uncertainty, ignorance, and failure are blessings."
Next time you're afraid in life or unsure what's going to happen next, train your brain to love where you currently are. Even if you're in a rut, remind yourself that when you get out of it, you'll look back on your life and be glad you were in that rough patch. That rough patch or uncertain moment of your life will allow you to fully love and appreciate your life when you do become happy and successful.
Uncertainty, ignorance, and failure are blessings. They hurt in the moment, but they have their purpose in the end.
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