Almost two hundred people I know had their flights cancelled or
postponed, due to the war. I saw in their faces that mixture of powerlessness
and silent anxiety.
I was in India recently, and those scenes stayed with me. They left me
with a question that feels more relevant than ever: How do you plan your
life in a world that refuses to be predictable?
Because let’s be honest… we love plans (at least, I love them). They
give us a sense of control, direction, even identity. But life, every now and
then, reminds us - gently or abruptly - that control is often an illusion.
My reflection is about what to do when things become unclear.
Our first instinct is usually to do more things: think
more, calculate more, try to fix things faster. We check our resources - time,
money, skills – and we try to increase them, save them.
Of course, all of this is important, but what I saw there was that it is
simply not enough. There were people who were glued to an app, trying to
find a way out, or those who could buy a new ticket just like that; still,
there was no response, no ticket…
Situation sometimes are bigger than our tools and resources, our
capacity. It results into an inner pressure, so we try and force solutions,
pushing our way through.
There is however, one thing that was useful. In many faces, I saw plenty
of smiles and calm, a fresh sensation that said things will be OK. That is
the one possibility I saw that was the most successful: resilience.
It is an inner strength and quietly steps in, not as a dramatic force,
but as a deeper power. It helps us adapt and, instead of denying the horrible
reality, we learn from it and move on.
So, how do we plan when certainty is not available? I don’t think the
answer is to stop planning… but let’s plan differently:
- Avoid rigid expectations. Plans are useful, but expectations can turn into traps. Hold things with
openness.
- Plan for the best, prepare for the worst. Not from fear, but from maturity. It creates inner
stability.
- Think beyond “Plan B”. Sometimes even alternatives fail. Go further - visualize yourself after
the situation. How do you want to feel when this is over?
- Stay calm, wherever you are. Calmness is not a luxury; it is a tool to be used in
these cases.
- Look for help… in the right place. Not all advice is helpful and not all voices bring
clarity. Choose wisely.
- Accept what you cannot control. Not as resignation, but from resilience. Save energy and
use that strength in dealing with this reality.
- Stay focused. When the outside is shaking,
the inside must be steady. That’s where a real direction comes from, a possible
solution.
