Ever notice how the simplest of tasks can become lumbering behemoths of stress and concern? That usually happens because they lack a crucial element, one frequently overlooked: preparation.

Preparedness is a vital aspect of any environment or situation that involves getting something done. Tasks are nominally built around an objective, and the steps that must be taken to achieve that objective require a certain amount of prior investment for them to work.

While it's true that we can get away with "winging it" once in a while, spur-of-the-moment reactions are rarely of the same caliber as those executed with a modicum of preparation. If you insist on shooting from the hip, as it were, you're either reckless or possessed of prodigious natural talent. Perhaps even both.

In any case, the better way to go about things would be to prepare. There's nothing to be lost by taking the time to consider what may need to be done ahead of an actual requirement, regardless of the gravity of that need. Even agreeing to meet a friend at a certain time can be just as problematic as taking a pop quiz if you didn't take certain necessities into account, like making sure you shower/study early enough.

Keep in mind that people who excel at reacting reflexively to situations and needs are usually capable of doing so because they were prepared. Dancers, for example, are capable of flexible movement at any given time because of the continuous investment they put into their physical abilities.

As I said before, your mind is just like your body. If you run it through the motions of what you may need to do in the future, your chances of success will increase considerably. Prepare yourself to take on whatever possible challenges you might face. That way, when the demand comes, you can do what's needed without a moment's worry.

Sometimes, preparation is the only thing that separates success from failure.

[First published by Perspective, DLSU - College of St. Benilde]