Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE
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Best made plans
As one of my clients got married last Saturday, escorted by 6 bride's maids and driven by white coach and horses, I thought of her enjoying the fruits of celebration planned to the endth detail over the last six months. Saturday 10th May was her day. The champagne flowed even at the church accompanied by string quartet as photographers and film makers ensured they captured every poignant moment, every refined dress, every charming and elegant smile, and then there was the dinner for 160 friends and family, the speeches and then the dancing into the early hours for the young and fit and the not-so-young and not-so-fit. The all Boy Band would keep them up till they dropped.
What a fantastic occasion to enjoy and how lovely to remember later. But with all those carefully laid plans, where the day's schedule extended to 8 pages of timed notes, there is no accounting for what might go wrong......or differently from expected. Although I was many miles away occupied in my own things I was aware of certain activities my client would be involved in, preparation for departure, the carriage and time of ceremony. I thought of them on bended knees.....! But of course things may not have 'gone according to THE plan'. That is not to say that everything did not go well as I'm sure it did, maybe just ever-so-slightly differently. But then it may have gone exactly to plan! :-)
All the best made plans hwever, can go awry.... Considering any situation be it in business, at home, in career or in love, our ideas and best intentions can seem to be thwarted and a hiccup may occur that may change things. But as the saying goes...."The best made plans are made to be broken".
For me, a plan is a starting out point, to begin the 'journey' or project; they are not a straight jacket or 'rod for our back' that we must adhere to. And as circumstances or events change away from our original thoughts, then we adjust our thinking and accommodate those changes. With every shift away from plan A, or even with a disappointment there is always a new opportunity. With everything that may go wrong or differently from expected there is a benefit to be gained. Having the eyes and open mind to see it is our challenge.
When things go wrong for me, I may be disappointed for a few minutes but I'll quickly change my thinking to see how I can benefit from things as they are now. I remember Sir Richard Branson saying in an interview after a failed round-the-world balloon flight. "Naturally I was disappointed, but only for 30 seconds. Any more than that is a waste of time!"
When things do not go according to plan, things may even turn out better than expected. A plan is a starting out point, not the destination. We will eventually get where we're going, which may be different from our original idea. There is no knowing what is around the corner. If it's good, then we will be pleased. If it is not good, then although we may be upset, for 30 seconds or more, but it's helpful to remember that there is an opportunity for something new, bigger, better, more appropriate, cheaper, better timed... it is just for us to take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way.
I'm thinking of my client's wedding on Saturday, sure that everything went well for them. But even if things did not go according to her best made 8 page schedule, I hope she had a really great day anyway.
It's good to make plans and it's great to deviate them too! If the change is unexpected, then so will be the benefit!
I'm thinking of my client now. She'll be lying on a sandy Caribbean beach......lovely.
