Spring, Mindful Planning, and the Wood Element

Ah, the freshness of Spring. It’s a time for moving, creating, and reviving our energy. The concept of the Spring season in Chinese medicine revolves around two organ systems: The Liver and the Gallbladder (Wood Element). And in balance, these systems govern healthy planning, decision-making, vision, and flexibility.  

Maybe you can relate?

This is an interesting topic for me, because I am not one to plan well. It’s not because I am a super lax free-spirit, but because I am an avoidant perfectionist. I’ve been procrastinating since the age of 3, which is why I can generally thrive under pressure. But trying to plan more than one day out becomes truly uncomfortable as all hope and motivation shuts down, and I soon yearn for a quick (and by quick I mean 30-minute) social media scroll. 

My issue - drowning in literally all the details and all the possible results.

My planner is basically filled with an abundance of squiggle line sketches, and fragmented to-do lists that make absolutely no sense for my purpose in this world. It’s to merely take up space and look “busy”, only to completely forget  about it the next day.

Now that I am approaching the latter half of my third decade in life, and have an ever-evolving business to run, I am finally beginning to understand the importance of mindful planning. This meaning that I am starting to realize what actually belongs on my to-do list. Jotting things down that I can realistically accomplish, and focusing only on what is essential for my vision and my own survival. My mission for this Spring is to cultivate the ability to put these tasks and plans on my calendar without any attachment to the outcome. 

Without practicing daily mindful planning, I will continue having to act under pressure and constraint, all the time. This is nothing but incredibly draining.

A quick reminder for my over-thinker, plan avoiders:

Just remember that when you sit down to start planing for the week, month, or year, simply set the intention to:

1.) Make the plan. 2.) Execute the plan. 3.) Let go.

Not - obsess over the details, sort of make the plan, obsess over the result, doubt whether it’s good enough, execute half of the plan, drop the plan, wing it, obsess even more over the result.

Obsessing over the possible result or reaction during the process of planning will eventually deplete your precious time, energy, and willpower. It will also keep you stuck. And you can’t bring your vision to life if you remain exhausted and stuck.

With all this being said, you want to always maintain your focus for the desired result, but also realize that the desired result will happen… or it won’t. That’s it. 

This is the art of flexibility within a healthy Wood element. 

If the result you get is what you aimed for, fantastic. It’s something to celebrate, and then build upon.

If the result is not what you aimed for, also fantastic. Find the value in it not working this time around, and then learn from it in any way you can. 

As I start to put this into practice myself, planning is now becoming increasingly inviting. It’s an inspiring way to take advantage of this season that brims with change and renewal. 

Now start your mindful planning today so that you can proactively express your brilliant vision. You have an entire world to transform.