Facing Your Future

 By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

  “The reason why most people face the future with apprehension instead of anticipation is because they don’t have it well designed.” Jim Rohn

In estate planning seminars the topic of having a Will is always covered. Many times the moderator will say, “If you have a Will, please raise your hand”. Some readily do so proud of the fact they have one. Others do not and take notice of the few that do. The moderator will then tell everyone to raise their hand. Looking puzzled they do so as the moderator then explains, “You all have a Will that either has been completed by an attorney or if not your Governor has a one ready for you”.  He goes on to say, “You may not like the one the Governor has for you”.

At that point you can see the apprehension on the faces of those that have failed to plan. They realize they are not in control of their estate and how it will be handled but it will be controlled by the laws of their respective state. Apprehension, due to lack of planning, is not uncommon in this and other aspects of our lives.

The late Jim Rohn, author and motivational speaker and mentor of Anthony Robbins and Jack Canfield, said, “If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much.” Many people make plans for everything except their Life Plan. Many times we simply take what comes and hope for the best. We settle for whatever comes with gratitude. We make statements like, well it wasn’t meant to be or I feel fortunate because it could have been worse. We then continue with someone else’s plan and hope for the best and feel fortunate for anything someone feels like tossing our way. We need a plan.

With a Life Plan you have a predetermined path which will need changes from time to time. That is to be expected. The changes can be made easier when you have a predetermined direction, a plan. It is so much easier to get the train back on the track and running when you know where the tracks are and where they are going. With a Life plan you will know.

A Life Plan will also allow you to determine what is important, verses what is urgent. We can easily be persuaded that some things are important when in fact they aren’t important to us and our plan. They may be urgent to others and that is fine, but important things are not always on a tight schedule. With a plan you will know the difference.

As we begin a New Year take some time to consider this, “If you have a Life plan, raise your hand.” If you do, Congratulations! If not someone else has one for you and it may not be much. Take time today to plan, be ready to make the changes as you go and keep it on track. With a plan you can face the future with confidence and determination. Happy New Year!