The Beauty of Plan B

As I looked at the dead ends I hit in my idea to reinvent my life and livelihood, I realize how important it is to have a fall back position – Plan B.

When I thought to let my writing take me where it will, I did not foresee that it would take me into uncomfortable awareness. Once it did, I shut down.

When I thought to add audio interviews to this blog, I did not imagine that people I approached would say “no.” When they did, I stopped cold.

When I made a proposal to help a friend develop a content strategy for his blog, I anticipated “no,” but not a weak “yes” that would leave me hanging. I expected to use my experience with him as a template to refine this service for other people. My first lesson – you can lead a horse to water; you can’t make it roll over and float on its back.

Now I consider myself to be a creative, resourceful woman. I trust myself to handle come what may. If Plan A does not work, on to Plan B. And if I don’t have a fall back plan, I’ll conceive one.

Instead, I let discouragement win the day. Plan A failed. Full stop.

The thing is that life doesn’t stop. We are always participating in the direction and quality of life whether we actively choose or passively abdicate the power to choose and leave “what’s next” up to chance. There’s no wrong choice, just a matter of preference. Do we choose to lead or to follow? Am I the driver in my life or merely a passenger?

And let’s face it. While hindsight is often 20-20, no one has perfect foresight. Not every idea has merit. All plans are subject to change. Whether we know it or not, we have in every moment the opportunity to invent our fall back plan.

“This is not working, let’s try something else!”

Plan B is born. Just like that. And we keep moving in the direction of our dreams. Haltingly. Haphazardly. But advancing nevertheless.

Think about the lowly dandelion.

Each blossom holds the potential for a thousand lives in the bosom of a tiny seed. Scattered on the wind, some seeds will land happily in fertile ground, catch hold and germinate. Others will fall on fallow ground. Eventually the seed dries out; dead plant matter enriches the soil. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is lost. And the profusion of energy in the direction of new life ensures new life in abundance.

That’s the beauty of Plan B.

Related Posts:

• Gotta Do What You Gotta Do
• How to Work with Inner Obstacles – Wisdom Heart
• When Divine Timing Isn’t What You Want – Jennifer Bloome