Tuesday, April 21, 2015

To Plan or Not to Plan

For years I have envied people who can make a plan and then stick to it. It's a no brainer for them. They make a plan so that they know exactly what to do when. I finally, finally realized that I am just not wired that way.
I love making plans but when I try to make myself stick to them, I feel trapped. I suddenly want to do anything but the thing I had planned to do. The funny thing is, I grew up in a planning society and in a planning family. And I realize that a good plan gives many people a sense of security. Not me. Mostly, it just takes the wind out of my sails.
Then it dawned on me: I make plans to get inspired. To brainstorm. To see the possibilities. To get my thinking unstuck and organized for a minute or two.
And once the plan is made, I may or may not follow it. The older I get the more I realize the importance of letting go of control and going with the flow. When I paint and I try to control the outcome, it never works. So when I get stuck, I get out the paints and paint with my fingers and hands, fast and without a plan - that connects me to the creative flow and always gets me going again.
The same is true for me in life. I don't like to know exactly what the year is going to bring. I don't like to make plans too far in advance. I need to have room for surprises, for changing direction, for play, and for inspiration.
If I had planned my life too strictly, I would have never started painting. I didn't know I could paint, so there was no way to plan for it. It was one of those happy surprises and I am so grateful I had room for it in my life!
Life it delicious and it moves and changes fast. And the most amazing moments I find are those that I didn't plan for, that aren't predictable. The ones that are easily missed when I follow a plan too strictly. Plus, when life does bring a surprise, it can completely throw me off kilter if I didn't leave room for flexibility.
And yet, I still plan because I love how a good plan organizes me for the moment and gives me a general direction in which to expand. But beyond that, I might change everything around the next moment. And that's quite alright!

Here's to a week full of delightful surprises for us all!

With love and gratitude,

Silke

5 comments:

  1. Nice! I feel the same way. Hardly anything I plan ends up going according to that actual plan. But in many ways I prefer that...at least the rebellions Bohemian in me does...and, being Czech, that one always wins out! :D

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  2. How many times have I written my intentions in my diary/sketchbook feeling inspired and fired up only to look at them later and hate everything I've written. I write ideas for paintings but they never get made because if I know the outcome then the magic disappears for me. I love to write the ideas down but by the time I read them again, I've changed my mind. Why is that?!
    Jess xx

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  3. I once attended a very prestigious school and 90% of the people that I met there had a very precise plan for their future. Many of them stick to it until now, have great careers and are successful. I eventually dropped out of this school and there were times in my life when I was absolutely terrified that by doing that and also not having a plan I will never be happy. Couldn't be more wrong. I don't know if these people are happy or just successful, I wish them all the best. But not having a plan worked out for me perfectly in the end.
    That's a wonderful and inspirational post. I also love your work. Wish you all the best!

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  4. Do I read about me or you here...;) as I am just as you.. whatever I plan I cannot follow it, beeing my paintings or my life.. :)
    your paintings are stunning!

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