I become the handler of my fears, not the handled.
Suleika Jaouad
One of my favorite memories with my children is each of us silently making wishes and then blowing fluffy dandelion seeds into the wind.
- It is also a treasured memory that I have with my grandchildren; the gift of seeing the twinkle in their eyes as the tiny seeds disappeared into the wind.
Our wishes change as Life progresses. Especially as we must learn to try softer and to navigate the difficult reality of “all the ways we are careworn by care” (David Whyte).
Trying not to care is one of the great human defenses against the vulnerabilities that care creates in our lives, the difficulty being that it is such a central part of our nature that we have to go firmly against our nature not to care. It actually takes tremendous energy to suppress what is central to our identity; trying not to care is the abiding source of much of our exhaustion in a human life.
David Whyte
There are so many things in this world that are different that we wish them to be. And that is why it is so vital to have “the courage it takes to offer honest feedback—even when it’s uncomfortable” (Kate Bowler). Honest feedback to ourselves and to others.
What does all of this have to do with planning?
Chronicling the details (events, emotions and want-to’s) of our days is a way to understand ourselves + map our desires. Tracking (and reviewing) our thoughts and routine activities reveals our beliefs and values — and helps us to discover our pace and rhythms.
Showing up for ourselves on the page along with setting aside time and space on a regular basis for both tangible and intangible processing is how we come to identify our desires + get clarity.
- Everything is an opportunity. Everything we have lived and loved, questioned and lost is a part of our wholeness.
And, Braveheart, there is enough time and space and energy for our dreams and desires, wishes and want-to’s (even when we doubt that enoughness).
Our dreams take time. Without some type of visual chronicle to serve as a “map” — as well as a reminder and directive — the timelines of our desires and experiences become jumbled. What matters most becomes forgotten and ignored.
Thank you kindly for your interest in right brain planning! I am so grateful for your presence and support! ♥
