Healthy Living DIY

There's another side to it, of course. I've also seen people stall out on thinking they had to have every little detail worked out in advance. And because that is rarely possible, at least on a journey into unknown territory, they never start.

Just last week, I was talking with one of our Wellness Coaching participants. "You don't really see how it's going to go until you get in there and start," she observed.

Exactly.

Which is why I also advocate a certain amount of flexibility in your planning. You really don't always know how things are going to go until you get in there and start. But it's helpful to have a solid destination in mind and a general idea of the direction you need to head to get there. (We sometimes call that a "trajectory.")

Case in point. Ever taken a road trip to a different state? There are several ways to go about it. Usually, you have a destination in mind. Let's pick Denver. From where I live, Denver lies southwest by about 786.63 miles.

A gamer person than I might simply drive out of town heading south and wing it. Drive a while and hope for the best. At the other extreme is the person who wouldn't consider moving out of their own zip code without a triptik. They'd have a personal GPS for sure. Wouldn't even inflate the tires without one!

The middle course might go something like this. Stop by a gas station, bookstore, or your local automobile association office and pick up a good roadmap. Sure, you might log on to mapquest for the quick and dirty version. But nothing beats a map. You can pick out likely rest stops and figure about how much time your drive will take if things go smoothly.

Here's the factor you don't want to miss. What if you get to Spearfish and discover you just love the Black Hills? What if you want to extend your visit by a day to explore? What if you choose to knowingly trade off an extra day with Auntie Jean and the triplets for a relaxing drive through the hills?

The "hey, let's just drive south" dude might never have even found the Black Hills. He'd just as likely end up in a cornfield somewhere in the middle of Nebraska. He'd probably make Denver eventually, but the vacation could be over by the time he figures it out.

The triptik scenario allows for very little freedom or flexibility. Assuming he ever gets out of the driveway, that guy would be afraid to veer off the prescribed path. He can't see what's out there and doesn't want to find out.

But the map is a nice compromise. It offers a clue to your best route. Yet it also gives you the tools to enjoy an adventure or two along the way.

Plan it or dive in? Often the best choice is a skillful combination of both. The participant I was talking with was exactly right on the money. You often don't know how things are going to come together until you jump in and get started. (Preferably within the context of a good plan!)

We're starting a new session for Wellness Coaching on May 15th. Registration opens today! If it sounds like something you might be interested in, check it out here: Wellness Team.