Rethinking “Planning” – Is It Still About Control and Perfection?
The Hidden Baggage of the Word “Planning”
We’ve been taught to value “planning” as the responsible thing to do.
“Plan ahead.”
“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
“Stick to the plan.”
But planning, for many people, comes with hidden weight:
- Perfectionism: Plans must be flawless or fail-proof
- Rigidity: Deviating from the plan = failure
- Overwhelm: Planning feels like “doing everything right” in advance
- Shame: If your plans don’t pan out, it must be your fault
The result? Many people avoid planning altogether—or try to plan every detail, then freeze when life inevitably goes off-script.
A Reframe: Planning as Presence with a Direction
What if planning wasn’t about locking in outcomes but about tuning in?
What if it sounded more like
“I choose a direction based on what matters—and stay flexible as I move.”
Now planning becomes
- An intentional compass, not a rigid map
- A rhythm, not a cage
- A tool for clarity—not a guarantee of success
- A conversation between your present self and your future self
When we treat planning as support, not control, it empowers us instead of draining us.
The TRP Take
At The Revamp Project, we see planning not as a demand for perfection but as an act of devoted alignment.
You may not predict the path perfectly.
You won’t control every variable.
But you can choose your direction.
You can name your priorities.
You can prepare to pivot.
And that changes everything.
So here’s a possible reframe:
“Planning isn’t about controlling life.
It’s about being in partnership with it.”
The goal isn’t flawless execution.
The goal is forward motion with meaning.
Reflection Prompts
Use these prompts to explore your current mindset around planning:
- What does the word “planning” make me feel—tight or expansive?
- Have I ever abandoned a goal because the plan didn’t go perfectly?
- What would planning look like if it were rooted in flexibility and trust?
- Where can I shift from “control” to “collaboration” in my planning style?
- What’s a phrase that could replace “stick to the plan” in my life?
Want to Go Deeper?
Words shape our work habits—and our relationship to the future.
Recommended follow-ups:
- Podcast Episode: Rethinking Enough—Is It Still a Word of Peace or a Word of Limit?