Oh, Leo, you’ve done it again. Over and over again I am inspired by Leo Babauta at Zen Habits. He recently posted (“Why We Overplan“) about why NOT setting goals, when going on vacation or in everyday life, will help us act fluidly and be happier and less stressed, while still achieving a great deal.
“We are not walking a path, but surfing a sea. Most people look at goal setting as picking a destination, then figuring out a path to get there. That assumes you’re walking on land that will change very little, and that while you will have unforeseen obstacles, you’ll be on stable ground and the destination won’t move. That’s not at all true — life is more like the sea, ever changing with no fixed paths or destinations, with swells and currents and waves that change everything at every moment. The ultimate skill, then, isn’t setting a destination (goal) or a path (plan), but surfing. In surfing, you take whatever waves come, learn to judge the waves as they come, learn to ride the wave as it changes, not as you planned. It’s going with the flow (literally), and changing what you do depending on how the flow changes.”
Be sure to check out the whole article and his other posts. I can apply this to many areas of my own life:
– Parenting for sure: taking each stage (or day for that matter) as it comes and not comparing my child to anyone else’s child or any ideal I have in my own mind.
– My to-do list: I am starting to see it as an evolving and ever-changing constant. I am always going to have many items on the list. It’s just a matter of prioritizing the list every day, sometimes multiple times a day, and getting done what I can.
– Marriage: There don’t seem to be these set milestones you’re supposed to reach along a path. It’s more of a flow as each individual changes and grows… so must the other in a way. It’s a daily shifting.
What aspect of your life can you apply this to? (I know, I know… I just ended a sentence with a preposition. Oh well.) Share in the comments!
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Is that a Stephen Cosgrove book? I’ve heard of it, believe it or not!
I agree Zen Habits is awesome. I actually print it out and read it when I have a minute on the go. 🙂
I love your photo with the rainbow it is beautiful. Like you I read zen habits daily. I remember when my girls were little and reading a book called Serendipity, it is a wonderful book about knowing where you want to go, but being open to the magic along the way! there are days I need a big sign, to remind me to be open, and not always in the head down, task oriented mode and reading zen habits helps!
Is that a Stephen Cosgrove book? I’ve heard of it, believe it or not!
I agree Zen Habits is awesome. I actually print it out and read it when I have a minute on the go. 🙂
yes, that is the book – we had several of them, and the kids loved them. and rainbows are a perfect reminder of the beauty that can happen!
Your comments always make me smile!
Naomi,
I love the wisdom Leo shares.
The pictures on your post this morning are beautiful.
I hope you saw my response that I sent back to you last week.
Thanks for checking with me.
I simply needed some time to reconnect with myself the past few weeks.
I hope your world is bright and beautiful.
hugs to you
Thanks, Eydie! I did get your e-mail and thanks so much for writing back… just haven’t had a chance to send you a reply message but I WILL, I promise. 🙂
Naomi,
I love the wisdom Leo shares.
The pictures on your post this morning are beautiful.
I hope you saw my response that I sent back to you last week.
Thanks for checking with me.
I simply needed some time to reconnect with myself the past few weeks.
I hope your world is bright and beautiful.
hugs to you
beautiful wisdom…..my heart brightens and whispers “yes!”
thanks for the sweet share,
Jennifer
Your comments always make me smile!