#107 - Living Forward (Chp 1 - Acknowledge the Drift)

In life, it is easy to drift off course despite our best efforts. Such drift can happen because of four reasons:

1. Being unaware. We can drift because we don’t know what is happening, or what is really at stake
2. It happens because we are distracted. Sometimes we can get caught up in something and lose the sense of time
3. It can happen when we are overwhelmed. Taking too much than we can handle can overwhelm us
4. It happens when we are deceived. When you believe that you have no control over your situation, you can feel powerless and do nothing

Consequences of Drifting include:

1. Confusion. Confusion comes from losing perspective
2. Expense. When you drift through time, you incur costs that include lost time and money
3. Lost opportunities. Without a plan, you have no way of taking advantage of opportunities that present themselves to you
4. Pain. Failure to plan can result in a lot of pain from failed marriages, unfulfilled potential, and so on
5. Regrets. The saddest consequence of the drift is having regrets and asking “if only”

“Life Planning is the exact opposite of the drift. The drift is about passivity. Life Planning is about proactivity. The drift is about blaming our circumstances or other people. Life Planning is about taking responsibility. The drift is about living without a plan. Life Planning is about having a plan and working it.”