Breaking Free from Rigid Thinking: 4 Keys to Embracing Life's Unexpected Paths

Oftentimes when we make plans, we become so married to those plans that we don't allow room for flexibility and adaptability in our approach.

Aerial view of a winding mountain road cutting through lush green terrain, with a red-roofed shelter and a couple of cars navigating the sharp curves.

The Beauty in Redirection

I'm sure you've heard it said before that, when we plan, God laughs. Life has an interesting way of redirecting our steps. One thing I've noticed in my own life is that the greatest blessings have come from embracing things outside of my plans.

For some time, my goal was to make it to the NFL, and I was fortunate enough to have had opportunities to do so. However, in my heart, I felt God was calling me in another direction. I wrestled with accepting that redirection because I had my own plans and vision for how things should go, which only made me toil in pain.

It wasn't until I fully embraced the understanding that God knows me and knows the things that will bring me true fulfillment that things started to change. Ironically, the more fleshed-out idea for this platform came about in the hotel while I was training for my NFL Pro Day. I felt led to write about what I was feeling and going through at the moment—the anxiety, nerves, and uncertainty.

It occurred to me that the more I wrote, the more relieved I began to feel. Writing was a form of catharsis for me, and so I decided to share short-form content through Instagram posts. Surely enough, people began to engage with the content, and some would even message the page letting us know the posts were impactful and helpful to them. I'm continually seeing the power of storytelling and how one's story can resonate with others in such a way that they feel empowered.

The Danger of Being Rigid

Sometimes, stubbornness and rigidity to one's plans is pride disguised as zeal or ambition. Although it is important to put forth effort and persistence towards one's goals, doing so in the wrong direction is folly. Consequently, this will lead you on a circuitous path that will only add to the time it takes to redirect your steps.

Think of a navigation system when you miss a turn: while you will still make it to your destination, it adds unnecessary time to reaching that destination. The ultimate goal is to be in step with God's will for your life, which requires humility, faith, patience, and courage.

Keys to Embracing Change

1. Humility

Humility may require that you:

• Seek out knowledge you don't have

• Humble yourself to learn from those who have gone ahead

• Embrace that you don't know as much as you think you do

As 1 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV) reads: "Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know." Life is a continual platform for growth—remain a student.

2. Faith

In Hebrew, faith is an action-oriented word meaning "support". Theologian Dr. Edmund Perry offered a powerful rendition of the meaning of faith:

"This steadiness, however, is not the result of stabilizing oneself with one's own resources. One steadies himself by taking hold of or supporting himself on something or someone regarded to be stable and reliable."

True faith necessitates that you move and take action!

3. Patience

Patience is key when you find yourself in a season of change. The natural tendency is to want to have all the answers. By employing patience along your journey, you will be sure not to miss the important moments and events meant to develop you.

4. Courage

Courage doesn't mean the absence of fear, but rather having the ability to act in the face of fear.

"Have I not commanded you, be strong and of good courage"

Final Thoughts: Your Journey of Adaptation

As you navigate life's unexpected twists and turn, remember that in the midst of redirection, are opportunities for growth, learning, and discovering parts of yourself you were unaware of.

The journey of adaptability is not about abandoning your dreams, but about being open to how those dreams might manifest. Sometimes, the most beautiful destinations are reached through paths we never planned to travel.

A Personal Challenge

Take a moment to reflect:

• Where have you been holding too tightly to your original plans?

• What unexpected opportunities might be waiting just beyond your current perspective?

• Are you willing to listen, learn, and lean into the unknown?

Embrace change not as a disruption, but as an invitation—an invitation to expand, to grow, and to become the most authentic version of yourself.

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."