b'BY COURTNEY CLARKThe Science of Changing Your PlansAn Excerpt from ReVisionary ThinkingA s young children, many ofstory that no longer serves themaStrategy 1: Recall What Workedus learn how to set goals.story that no longer makes sense.in the PastAs we grow, were taughtTo be truly resilient in the face ofFirst, think about past experiences how to work toward our goals. Werechange and challenges, we havewhen you were heading into an encouraged to put in effort, to try ourto be less committed to a specificunknown situation. If you struggle best, and to never give up. version of life and instead be willingto start your list, remember that as But were not often taught whatto rewrite the story. children we faced unknown situations happens if life throws a roadblockBut we cant even start to rewritewith much greater frequency than we in our path. We dedicate significantour new story without first throwingdo in adulthood. Kids walk into a new effort to going for the goal, but weaway the old story. The old storyclassroom with a new teacher every spend little time learning strategieshas a tendency to creep back insingle year! Children try new sports for what to do when the goalpostsand cloud our thinking. It canand activities regularly. They make move. With a single-mindedhappen to individuals but also tonew friends or say goodbye when old commitment to a goal and few skillsorganizations. friends move away. Teenagers pack to adapt, its no wonder we getSo how can you (or yourup all their belongings and go off to frustrated when change happens. organization) let go of your old plancollege. They go to their first dance, Resilient people can let go of aand begin building a new plan? or on their first date. Young adults start their first job and pay their first bill. Every time you do something for the first time, youre heading into the unknown and facing ambiguity. In fact, children may be better at letting go of the plan than adults are, maybeGOLD PARTNER because they do it more often! (More on that later in this chapter.) Being able to point to a list of times you successfully navigated an ambiguous situation is a good first step. Next, think about what actions you took in those situations that helped you get through it. Did you keep an open mind? Did you control your anxiety? Did you befriend and lean on someone else going through the experience? Remembering the strategies that worked for you in the past is a good tactic, because each person is unique. Ultimately, remind yourself that each of those ambiguous situations was ultimately resolved. It was unknown and uncomfortable in the beginning, yet at some point your path became clear. Whether the end was enjoyable or successful (and I hope 8 WAMOA JOURNALSUMMER 2025'