From Chaos to Clarity: Adjusting Your Life Plan

“A failed project, an unexpected setback, or a changed season of life doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means it’s time to adjust the plan”

Parashat Bereishit opens not only the Torah but also the story of human potential. Creation unfolds with precision and purpose, “Vayar Elokim ki tov,” “And G-d saw that it was good”, a recurring phrase that teaches us something vital about success: G-d evaluated His work at every step.

Even the Creator didn’t wait until the end to assess the outcome; He paused, observed, and adjusted. Each day of Creation was followed by reflection. This built-in rhythm of create, evaluate, and refine sets the template for how we should approach our own lives and goals.

Too often, people make grand plans for career, relationships, health, or spiritual growth, and then charge ahead without checking whether they’re still on the right track. But Bereishit teaches us that growth is not just about setting a plan; it’s about revisiting and refining it.

1. “And G-d saw…” — The Power of Self-Assessment

Every “Vayar Elokim” reminds us that awareness precedes improvement. In life, progress depends on the courage to look honestly at where we are. Whether it’s a weekly self-check or an annual reflection, success starts with stepping back to ask:

What’s working well?

What needs adjustment?

Am I still aligned with my values and vision?

This mirrors the idea of cheshbon hanefesh, a personal accounting that helps us realign our actions with our purpose.

2. When Chaos Appears, Don’t Panic, Reorganize

The Torah begins with “Tohu vavohu” — chaos and void — before form and light emerge. That’s an encouraging message for anyone whose plans have gone off course. Even from confusion and failure, new clarity can be created. G-d didn’t abandon the void; He organized it.

Sometimes, life requires us to reorganize our “tohu vavohu”, to take the mess, learn from it, and reimagine a better order. A failed project, an unexpected setback, or a changed season of life doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means it’s time to adjust the plan.

3. Shabbat, The Pause That Clarifies

After six days of creating and evaluating, G-d rested. Shabbat wasn’t simply about ceasing activity; it was about stepping back to gain perspective. We, too, need moments to pause, to zoom out from the busyness and ensure our “game plan” still fits the life we truly want to live.

4. Life as Iterative Creation

Just as Creation was an ongoing process of refinement, so is our journey. Each year, month, or even day offers the chance to recreate, to bring more light into areas still in shadow. The Torah’s first parashah teaches us that self-renewal is divine work.

Takeaway

To live successfully means doing what G-d modeled in Bereishit:

Create with intention.

Pause to evaluate.

Adjust to improve.

Rest to renew perspective.

Our lives are not one-time creations; they are living projects that require ongoing design and review. Every time you check your “game plan” and adjust it with wisdom and humility, you are participating in the divine pattern of Creation itself.