Planning for Success

Hi there!

Welcome back to the MoodiNews. Every Thursday, we discuss a variety of matters related to mental health and self-improvement. 

I’m so glad you’re here.

This week, we will discuss the third and final Therapeutic Superpower! YAY!

Today, will be reviewing Therapeutic Superpower #3: Developing (and maintaining) a plan for the future. This third and final Superpower is a useful tool for overcoming self-improvement obstacle #3—a lack of direction.

As discussed in this previous post, a lack of direction in life can lead to a myriad of issues. When you’ve got no reason to wake up in the morning, it’s hard to combat low mood, nihilistic thinking, or low self-worth. Therefore, it’s essential to the growth and maintenance of your personal development to make meaning out of life and continue to move towards that meaning every single day.

But what does it mean, exactly, to develop (and maintain) a plan for the future?

Ultimately, it means mapping out your ideal life and then reverse-engineering your way towards it.

For example, if I am an aspiring astronaut, then developing a plan for my future would involve identifying that goal and figuring out which credentials, experience, etc. I would need in order to eventually achieve my mission.

Maintaining a plan for my future would then involve taking small action steps every day to turn my dream into a reality (i.e., getting the right education, doing the right training, and meeting the right people).

However, developing (and maintaining) a plan for the future is not only about dreaming big and shooting for the stars.

Oftentimes, this skill is much more simple: usually, it’s more about being strategic in response to small, everyday challenges that get in the way—for example, when the dog gets sick, you lose your job, or the roof starts to leak.

Essentially, when we can create a plan for the future and stick to it, we build a habit of ‘problem-solving in response to stress,’ which allows us to overcome unexpected obstacles more quickly and strengthens our internal locus of control.

Developing (and maintaining) a plan for the future is a Therapeutic Superpower because it not only lifts people out of crisis during difficulty, but it also helps them accomplish spectacular things long-term.

For instance, long after people resolve the issues that initially bring them in for therapy, if they continue to strategize, take initiative, and problem-solve in service of their ideal future, they will thrive.

Being ‘planful’ naturally cultivates a life driven by choice rather than obligation, which is necessary for achieving self-actualization (i.e., actually living your best life.)

In summation, adopting the practice of developing (and maintaining) a plan for the future (Superpower #3)—especially when combined with opposite to emotion action (Superpower #1)—invites us to take micro actions every day that enhance self-improvement and propagate a life worth living.

If and when we then fall short or struggle along the way, we have self-compassion (Superpower #2) to support us and foster emotional resilience.

If you’re curious about how to structure a skillful planning system for yourself like we discussed in today’s post, stay tuned, because that information will be released as a YouTube video next week.

As of today, the MoodiNews YouTube channel is now live!

You can click here to subscribe (and watch video #1)!