EVERY morning, as we always expect, the sun rises in the east. It brightens and warms the world, so people begin to wake up and embark on their day’s journey. We each prepare to begin the daily routines that we like to stick to; we each organise our own plans. We each have hopes for what we would like our day to bring. The idea of order is comforting to us, as it gives us the courage to face the day. Nevertheless, we all know that the most interesting part of life lies in the fact that it is utterly unpredictable!

Of course, the sun will always rise in the east, but we can never be sure what the weather will be like each morning. We can certainly attempt to stick to a methodical routine, but we can never be sure that everything will always be in order. We can also make plans and hope that our day will have specific outcomes, but we can never truly be sure that they will happen. Living our lives peacefully involves learning how to balance the unexpectedness of the world with the order that we wish to maintain within the boundaries of our own lives. Strangely, it is like trying to dance together in a duet with a highly spontaneous partner.

Unfortunately, learning to find this balance can be quite a difficult feat. When we are young, our plans for our future are one of the few anchors that keep us grounded and give us purpose. Our plans for the future give our dreams a chance to take wings and fly. So, when we begin to grapple with the fact that our plans may not unfold as we want them to, we become distressed. Although we know that life is unexpected, we do not fully understand what this means until we are caught off guard in our vulnerable moment of growth. We realise that the promise of unpredictability that usually makes life so interesting has now enveloped us in a cloud of uncertainty.

What happens when you try something new, and it does not go as planned? What happens when you put all your time and energy into a task only to find out that the outcome was not as expected? What happens when you make meticulous plans for a perfect day, only to realise that no part of your day will go as you hoped that it would?

What happens when you are no longer in full control of your own life?

Realising that we are not always in control of our lives can be quite scary. As children, we are often taught that hard work and perseverance yield success. We are encouraged to believe in the existence of a karmic cycle that guarantees only positive outcomes for those who make positive efforts. While it is true that we must work hard to achieve any significant success, it is also true that the road to success does not become any easier, regardless of how hard we work. We may face many obstacles even when we are diligent.

If we believe that control is the only way to shape our own lives, we may often feel disappointed. The best way to approach our lives is not with control but with faith. We know that we cannot have full control of our lives, but we can learn to build faith in ourselves so we are confident in our ability to face setbacks. More importantly, we must learn to simply ‘go with the flow’!

When you find yourself on the dance floor with a spontaneous partner, wrestling against them will rarely make for an enjoyable experience, even when it seems like the steps you have in mind are better than theirs. It is always better to work with your partner rather than against them. Similarly, when you notice that life seems to be going against the plans that you have already mapped out in your mind, go along with the new changes and find new ways to achieve your goals.

In simpler words, when nothing goes right, then go left! You might find that unexpected paths lead to the most beautiful treasures.