So.... some days do not at all go according to plan.
Like this past Tuesday when I got sick--super sick--like not able to stay awake for more than 30 minutes at a time from noon on Tuesday until Wednesday morning sick.
Not my idea of a good time.
Thankfully, I had blocked out Tuesday for project work so I didn't need to cancel any meetings, and by Wednesday, I was feeling better enough to only need one nap. But how I felt on Tuesday was completely exhausted, fragile, and incapable of focus. When I woke up at intervals, I would take a somewhat helpless look at my daily plan but could only muster a bit of energy to do a thing or two. Mostly, I just napped. I had to trust as I surrendered to what my body needed in the moment that everything would work out.
And as far as I can tell, it did. My body is healing, and I've adjusted my weekly plan to get the most essential items done.
I share this with you because I have a sense that I'm not the only one who will encounter some unexpected schedule upsets this season. I hope it's not a stomach bug, but it could be. Or perhaps it will be a work project that goes sideways and requires you to put in extra hours or an urgent family issue that arises.
I don't want or wish this for anyone.
But if something unanticipated does happen, I do hope that no matter what--whether you perceive it as good or not on the surface--that you will surrender to the moment. Listen to yourself. Receive the gifts of what is.
I never would have hoped for myself getting sick this week. But I have already clearly seen in multiple ways how God has used the process to soften me, humble me, and counter intuitively, make me more secure in His love. I've even seen Him use it to work out things in my schedule better than they would have been otherwise.
So if you encounter the unexpected in the next couple of weeks, I encourage you to stay calm, and choose the way of surrender to the process. You'll end up a whole lot more joyful and receive all the gifts of the experience--no matter what happens.
About Real Life E
Elizabeth Grace Saunders is the founder and CEO of Real Life E® a time coaching company that empowers individuals who feel guilty, overwhelmed and frustrated to feel peaceful, confident and accomplished. She is an expert on achieving more success with less stress. Real Life E® also encourages Christians to align themselves with God's heart through Divine Time Management.
McGraw Hill published her first book The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: How to Achieve More Success with Less Stress. Harvard Business Review published her second book How to Invest Your Time Like Money. Hachette is publishing her third book on Divine Time Management. Elizabeth contributes to blogs like Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company and has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox.