We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.

The line urges a relinquishing of rigid, ego-driven expectations—career scripts, social roles, or “shoulds”—in order to meet life as it actually unfolds. In Campbell’s broader mythological framework, this resembles the hero’s journey: the call to adventure requires leaving the familiar plan behind, entering uncertainty, and being transformed by what is encountered. The “life waiting for us” suggests vocation or destiny not as a fixed blueprint but as a lived discovery that becomes available only when one stops clinging to control. The quote is often used as counsel during transitions, emphasizing openness, surrender, and the creative possibilities that emerge from change.