When Plans Change - November 12

Sometimes it’s wise to let go of even our most cherished goals and follow the direction life is guiding us. In today’s 5 Minutes in Nature, inclement weather forces Liz to change her walking plans, reminding her of how easily she can cling rigidly to plans and goals. Today, she notices the value of looking inward and approaching life with ease, learning the importance of flexibility and flow.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to five minutes in nature with me Liz Scott.

Oh it's cold!

You might be able to hear the rain pitter-pattering down.

I've just gone up onto the moorland of Dartmoor for a walk and I thought I was judging it to walk in between rain showers but I was wrong.

As I climbed up up onto the moorland the rain came in with a very strong southwesterly wind and the rain is cold against my face.

I was walking into the rain into the wind.

I didn't have the right clothing on.

My trousers are absolutely soaked and the rain was cold and the wind was cold against my face so much so it began to ache and everything about me felt cold.

So I've just come down off the moor onto a lane and I'm contemplating whether or not to go back onto the moor just trying to judge whether this rain is going to lift or not or whether just to come down off the moor and walk home along the roads either is fine.

I'm just kind of judging whether or not to do that now and I guess it's a really good reflection for today's five minutes in nature because of course we all have plans we all have ideas about what we think we're going to do but the truth is those plans change and things happen and those plans change and I guess my question to you is are you the kind of person that is happy to be flexible with your plans you make changes you adapt as you go along or are you the kind of person that once you set a plan or you set a goal you like to stick rigidly to it.

Now I kind of fall into that latter category I am somebody that likes to stick rigidly to plans and I've been learning recently that that is not always the best place to be there's something about having a commitment and sticking to it that for me feels right it's part of the way that I'm built but equally there's something that I find which is about setting a plan and being flexible that is seems to be what the universe wants me to learn at the moment and this is such a great example of that setting out for a walk on the moors planning to do a particular route walking quite smartly because it's cold and wanting to get my heart rate going and then the weather coming in in a way that I hadn't realized hadn't planned for and my original plan being thwarted but being adaptable and being willing to move and to shift and to change seems to be a really important way of being so today it's just a question for you are you the kind of person that is okay with change with is okay with shifting with it is okay with moving your plans changing your goals adapting as you go along or are you the kind of person that once you set your mind to something you feel committed to it and a dogged about what you're doing as with all of the things I talk about I'm not offering a right or wrong way to do anything I'm actually just suggesting that it's so good to notice where you are with it and to see what the universe is asking for you to learn in this particular area for me I am being asked to learn to adapt to shift to change to be flexible with change to let go I kind of cling on to things too long sometimes and I know I'm often being asked by the universe to let go to let go of that dogmatic way of being to judge between what is a sense of commitment and honoring something and being consistent and what actually is me clinging on to something that is old and I need to let go of so that's what I'm just asking of you today and just asking you to reflect are you the sort of person that once you set a plan you doggedly keep to it are you the kind of person that is flexible and ultimately what do you think is the right way for you to be in the world what is the right way for you to be when it comes to reflecting and for me actually as always it always comes back to looking within looking within seeing whether I'm supposed to move forward or to shift and evolve there is no right answer all there is is looking within and going with the flow of universal energy and adapting and changing when necessarily or continuing with my original course if that feels like the direction I'm being asked to take so I guess that's really what I'm being taught today is look within evolve when necessary stay committed when necessary but always always always take guidance from within

Reviews

I always used to be a very rigid person and would really struggle with unplanned changes and having to adapt in the moment. Once I started to meditate that absolute rigidness began to ease slightly and since my diagnosis as neurodivergent, I now understand why being anything other than rigid was so difficult. Depending upon the circumstances I can now be more flexible but I am sometimes caught completely off-guard and all the anxiousness and worry about having to change plans come flooding back. I try and remain calm and remind myself that it's not (usually) a life or death issue therefore it's ok to let go of the concerns and go with it, but it's still hard!

I like a plan and sticking with it. But life demands flexibility and sometimes I am pleased to find a pivot or openness to change brings an unexpected moment of synchronicity or happiness.

Btw-these tracks no longer show up in my updates-I have to go to your profile and look for them…but it’s worth it!!😇

I am trying to listen to my inner voice and stay in the present.
The future does not exist and will be dealt with when it is present (like it has always been).

Flexibility is my middle name. Consistency is my problem, I resist it with almost everything! And right now hearing this wisdom shows me that is what I need more of! Thank you.