LifeSightsSound

I must admit that I have a tendency to be quite controlling in many aspects of my life. I take great pleasure in meticulously planning and strategising my actions to ensure that I achieve my desired outcomes. The feeling of satisfaction that I experience when my efforts bear fruit is indescribable, and it’s what keeps me motivated to push forward.

However, I must also confess that I have a bit of a dramatic side. When things don’t go according to plan, I tend to get quite overwhelmed and anxious. It feels like time slows down, and I’m trapped in a dark, gloomy place. If I don’t get the results or recognition that I think I deserve, it can be difficult for me to stay calm and collected. In fact, it’s safe to say that I can become quite emotional and irrational in these situations.

Picture this: I spent hours planning every little detail, dotting every “i” and crossing every “t,” thinking that I had everything under control. I was confident that my efforts would lead to a successful outcome and everyone would be overjoyed. But boy, was I wrong! As it turns out, when you’re dealing with variables beyond your control, things can take a wild turn at any moment. All that planning and preparation didn’t guarantee a positive outcome, and it was a hard lesson for me to learn. Don’t get me wrong, planning is essential, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. I’m still grappling with this realisation, but hey, life is full of surprises, right?

After planning my tasks, I have developed a habit of using mind maps to organise my thoughts. This technique involves creating two circles, one containing the things I have control over and the other containing things I have no control over. Then, at the intersection between the two circles, I write the word “breath” to remind myself to calm down and take things one step at a time.

Next, I start thinking about the worst-case scenario and come up with backup plans, starting from Plan B and going all the way to Plan Z if necessary. This process has proven to be helpful in reducing my anxiety levels and has also helped me to think of alternative ways to accomplish my goals.

The principle that I live by is “try again”. I believe that it is completely normal to feel upset, angry, or frustrated when things don’t go our way. It is okay to express those emotions by crying, shouting, being sulky, or even breaking things. However, I also firmly believe that we should never give up. Instead, we should gather ourselves, learn from our mistakes, and try again until we achieve our goals.