The Fairy tales of our youth warned us about the fate of living without strategy and being unprepared for the challenges of life. There were the two little piggy’s who didn’t prepare for the big bad wolf and when he came, were at the mercy of the third (and more prudent) piggy for protection –and the grasshopper who played tricks and taunted the ants for stocking up on food during the warm months, then ended up begged them for shelter and crumbs when winter arrived. The prudent piggy and the ants both won the game of life because of their strategic plans. They were aware of the universal facts, like the changing seasons, that are a part of life on earth and were able to transition seamlessly when those changes occurred. Because of their prudence, they were safe and able to keep their personal power and dignity.
Being strategic about life planning is critical to building a strong foundation that will weather the inevitable future storms. A few poor choices and the ability to secure a stable life can be set back decades, creating needless stress and anxiety. To avoid such a fate, use biology as a framework for life planning. Much like earth being governed by the laws of nature, humans are governed by laws of biology, making it a reliable framework for creating life strategies. Human beings have two agendas; the agenda of the species and the personal agenda, the former of which we have no control over. Everyone will develop through all of the same physical and psychological stages until their life ends. Having an awareness of all of the developmental stages and their impacts on the body and mind is helpful when determining how to execute the personal agenda.
For an example, if it is known that the rate of cognitive information processing deteriorates rapidly after middle age, it would be prudent to pursue an education early in life. Similar, if the reflexes and the physical body are at its peak functioning in the early twenties, it may be best to pursue professional athletics around that time. The biological framework can also be helpful with relationships. If a spouse understands all of the hormonal changes that are apart of menopause, or parents understand that their teenager is going through puberty, they can modify their own thoughts, feelings, reactions and communication strategies to preserve harmony in the relationship.
Most societies are structured in line with the biological framework, with activities like education, employment, marriage, and starting a family following a chronological sequence. Biology has become such a normalized part of existence that many people fail to realize its significance, much less take the time to analyze and apply it's laws to their lives. Many individuals lose sight of the fact that biology will always affect their lives and end up developing goals that do not take their physical reality into consideration. Women struggle with the temporal limitations of fertility, and if they don’t plan for how to balance biology, work, and family years in advance, they may select careers that will force them to have to choose between the two. Men have challenges when faced with declining testosterone levels, loss of prowess, diminishing mental capabilities and appearance that can result in a mid-life crisis. If uneducated about the course and nature of these biological processes, some men act out in ways that can result in decisions like divorce or excessive spending, the effects of which are sometimes irreversible.
The impacts of poor planning can lead to innumerable psychological and interpersonal conflicts. Fortunately, these conflicts can be avoided with strategic life planning. Take some time to look into the biological realities that you will face, and how they will impact your physical and mental health. Are your goals in line with your biological realities? If they are, great! If not, consider re-evaluating your life to determine if you need to make any modifications towards your goals, or if you need to come up with a more effective plan on how to achieve them. For additional help with strategic life planning, contact a life coach or therapist in your area.
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