It Takes As Much Energy To Wish As It Does To Plan.

From Wishing to Action: Why Planning is the Engine of Progress

We’ve all been there. You dream of a promotion, a vacation to that exotic island, or finally mastering that new skill. But those dreams often remain just that – dreams – unless we take action. Eleanor Roosevelt eloquently captured this concept when she said, “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.”

The Illusion of Effortless Wishing

Wishes can feel effortless. They exist purely in the realm of imagination, requiring no concrete steps or commitment. We can indulge in elaborate fantasies without facing the reality of challenges or obstacles. However, this very ease is what makes wishing ultimately unproductive. It creates a false sense of progress, a feeling that simply by desiring something, we’ve moved closer to achieving it.

The Power of Planning: From Dream to Doable

Planning, on the other hand, is an active endeavor. It involves taking your wish and breaking it down into actionable steps. You define your goals, identify resources needed, and create a timeline for achieving them. This process transforms a nebulous wish into a tangible roadmap.

The benefits of planning go beyond simply creating a to-do list.

• Increased Clarity: Planning forces you to confront the specifics of your goals. What exactly do you want to achieve? Why is it important? This clarity helps you focus your energy and avoid distractions.
• Identification of Obstacles: As you plan, you’ll likely encounter potential roadblocks. Anticipating these challenges allows you to develop strategies to overcome them, preventing them from derailing your progress.
• Boosted Motivation: The very act of creating a plan can be motivating. Seeing your goals broken down into manageable steps makes them feel less overwhelming and more achievable.

Wishes Fuel Planning, Planning Drives Action

While wishing alone is ineffective, it can serve as the spark that ignites the planning process. When a strong desire arises, it motivates us to translate that wish into a concrete plan. The energy we might have spent on passive wishing can now be channeled towards taking action and making progress.

Planning Isn’t Rigid – It’s a Flexible Map

Planning doesn’t have to be a rigid, unyielding process. Life rarely unfolds exactly as expected. The beauty of a good plan lies in its adaptability. As you encounter unforeseen circumstances, you can adjust your approach while still maintaining your overall goals.

From Wishing to Wielding Your Willpower

Ultimately, the choice is ours. We can spend our mental energy on passive wishing, a mental exercise with no real-world impact. Or, we can invest that same energy in planning, the engine that propels us towards achieving our goals. So, the next time you find yourself wishing for something, remember – planning is the bridge that takes you from wishful thinking to empowered action and it takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.