Yesterday we talked about acceptance being one of the keys to having more peace in our lives. Accepting what is and what has been doesn't mean that you just let life happen, and don't make any active choices or decisions. Accepting in and of itself is an active process because you're taking time to understand what has been or is and coming to terms with it. And you can gain some peace from just accepting what has been and what is. But if you want peace in your life on a more regular basis (and less stress!) you need to do more than just accept how life moves and flows and the results of the decisions you made, you need to include realistic planning in your life more often.
What do I mean by realistic planning? One example would be that at the beginning of the day you plan out all the things you'd like to accomplish in that day, ordering them both by specific time slots (i.e. you have an appointment at 10 a.m.) and priority so you make sure you get the things you have specifically scheduled done as well as the things that are truly the highest priority for you to accomplish. Yes, most days you'll be left with a bit of a list, but that's not to be a discouragement, it's simply something you move to the next day or another day in the future, or you decide that it's not really something you need to do after putting it off several times and you remove it from your list.
Why is planning important to having peace? Think about it like building with blocks or Legos: sure you can just put the pieces together and see what you end up with, but if you want to create one of those really cool Lego structures or make a decent block tunnel for kids to drive their toys through you have to have an understanding of the steps that it will take for you to get from start to finish. Why? Because if you don't, all you'll have is stress and no peace, and success will be unlikely. Not having a plan is the reason that so many people don't get started on their goals (because they don't know where to start or the overall concept is too overwhelming), and not following through on the plan is one of the reasons why people don't accomplish their goals.
If having more peace is one of your goals for the new year that's just ahead, now's a great time to do some research, talk with a life coach or other expert, and make plans that you know you can follow through on for each of the months ahead. Don't let a year of your life go to waste because you let the overwhelm and unknown get the best of you: ask for help! Knowing that you've got some structure to your year ahead with plenty of room for changes, additions and necessary detours that life may send you on or send your way is a very positive and confidence-boosting way to start the year.
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