True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way. It can’t be gained by interfering. Lao Tzu

At the beginning of this year, I decided that I would, for the first time in my life, plan my year. I would plan where I was going to be, what I was going to do, how much money I would make and how much of my debt I would pay off etcetera. I got an organiser and I sought advice from time management experts on how to best structure my time and get things done.

I was determined to not just drift along, going wherever the wind took me. Because that was irresponsible, after all, look at what a mess my finances were in! No sir, was not going to go with the flow, I was going to have a PLAN.

You can probably guess how long that lasted. Not very long. Having plans felt very much like I was swimming against a riptide, or clinging onto a tiny branch in the rapids.

Futile. Ridiculous. And arrogant, in some ways. To plan my life would be to suggest that I know what I should be doing and where I should be. But how can I possibly know of all the beautiful, sychronus meetings with amazing people that the universe has lined up for me?

But despite realising that I needed to go with the flow once more, there were parts of my life that I did desperately want to improve, and so I came to the conclusion that instead of planning things, what I needed to do was manage things. If I managed my finances and my time rather than planned it, then there would be room for flow, spontaneaity, and surprises.

And since all my plans went to hell, that’s exactly what I have been doing. My organiser is still in constant use, my finances are improving bit by bit and I have had the most wonderful synchronistic meetings with beautiful souls.

I feel that I am finally on the path to mastery over my own life, my own existence. Now tell me about you, do you plan or do you flow?