Allow For The Unexpected
Posted on June 10, 2008
Filed Under Branding You
In our goal-oriented Western way of thinking we often strive to shape our professional and personal lives to fit our pictures. Relatively recent exposure in the West to various Eastern philosophies has opened a new realm of possibilities in terms of how we approach our lives.
In the past we may have interpreted the course of our lives as being controlled by fate. In this age, we’re more likely to at least consider it possible that we play a significant role in how it all “turns out.” But how much of a role?
Most of us have experienced the frustration of wanting our life results to more closely match our mental pictures of what we think they should be. We want what we want when we want it. Anything less provides us with evidence that perhaps we’ve been conned into thinking that we could actually have what we set out to achieve.
Being successful at Branding Yourself, or any other endeavor for that matter, most certainly requires that you challenge familiar ways of thinking – and acting. You can’t expect different results from doing the same things.
However, I’ve come to a new understanding on this subject. With age I’ve had to learn to allow for the unexpected. Life rarely turns out exactly as you envision it. There is almost always a surprise ahead that you can’t anticipate. A chance encounter can lead to an unexpected business deal or a sudden shift in the economy can bring about undesired obstacles.
Focusing on your intention rather than current circumstance or a specific end result allows space for the unexpected. You can be very clear about fundamentals of what you’re up to and at the same time accept that there are likely to be detours and even shortcuts along the way.
Being rigid is what gets us in trouble. It causes us to misinterpret and invalidate our results when they don’t fit our pictures. Consider perhaps that there is a grander view that you can’t now see. Make peace with uncertainty. It’s an overused phrase, but there is great value in “trusting the process.”
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