We all go through phases where everything feels off. We don’t feel like we’re “in flow.” We’re expected to – and have well-meaning friends who tell us to – trust The Universe has a plan. In some ways, that’s true, feels good, and helps get us through hard times. In other ways, that’s not helpful. We have free will for a reason.

So, what’s the difference? Where’s the line? When is it The Universe having a plan and when is it us needing to take the wheel of our life?

The Universe

A while back I missed a huge opportunity to get into a situation I’m trying to get into. It wasn’t my fault that I missed it. It wasn’t my work ethic or my moral compass. I simply was forced to sit back and watch someone else get offered what would have been “perfect” for me.

It stung.

I was p*ssed off.

After the initial anger, I came to accept that The Universe was watching out for me and that I had “dodged a bullet.” To be frank, Karma is real. And to stay in Karma’s good graces, simply do what you believe to be right for everyone around you… then do what works for you.

A few weeks later, I watched the proverbial bullet fly by me. The “opportunity” turned into a disaster as the presenter of the opportunity cheated the person offered the opportunity. It was incredibly sad to watch.

…and I can imagine – because I’m good at imagining – that it would have been a disaster culminating in a lawsuit had I been originally offered the opportunity.

As Robert Hunter so eloquently belted, “Tragedy narrowly averted.”

And, Karma is real.

…and if it matters to anyone, what resulted from my “missed opportunity” has turned out to be beautiful and fulfilling in a way that the original opportunity would not have.

“Don’t worry, Stu. If you’re away for a couple weeks, we’ll all find you when you get back.”

I also took a deep full breath and experienced the human condition: The Universe is here to support us!

Flow

Out of flow state is that day where you feel like you near-missed every opportunity. Like every “thing” that happens in the day is just ten-minutes out of sync?

There’s a philosophy – that I do buy into – that when we are doing the things that most align with our true self, we are in Flow. And that when our actions don’t exactly align with our calling or true nature, we are out of Flow.

So, I went to a networking event tonight. It’s put on by someone who I have a solid relationship with. “Just give me $20; we help each other help.” That kind of relationship. The presenter has helped promote my work and I’ve helped them build their business.

In truth, if we both charged fees for our relationship, they would even out. Instead, we get the benefit of giving into a mutually helpful situation. It feels good.

Things have felt out-of-sorts in general for a bit before tonight.

I realized after a few conversations, there was someone in the room that could have potentially fixed one of my problems. They had the means, the availability, and the desire.

They were in a conversation with someone else, so I slipped downstairs to get a drink. When I returned, they were saying good-bye to the host.

Sure, I could have interrupted the good-bye. I could have chased him out the door. But, neither of those things felt right to me.

What I believe could have been a perfect meeting… was nothing.

I missed the opportunity to act. Or didn’t take advantage of the opportunity that was kind-of there.

I want to say that The Universe was supporting me by the missed introduction, but I don’t actually feel that’s the case. I believe – I feel – that I should have taken the step to engage them even though they were leaving.

But, I didn’t.

Role of Work

So, the question is: Does The Universe interfere with our day to day to ensure our best outcome or do our own (in)actions define our experience?

I believe The Serenity Prayer sums it up quite nicely:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

The Universe IS here to support us. The embodiment Ganesh is the Universe putting obstacles in our way in order to direct us to the best outcome.

Our actions, though, do create what we want in the physical world.

And the difference is understanding what is beyond our control. I couldn’t do anything about not getting the offer in the first story. Yet, in the second story, the non-meeting was well within my control.

If you can do something about your situation, do it. If you can’t, let it go and trust.