I’m a Plan B gal. I have a Plan A, of course, but I always have a Plan B, too. Not even just for big things. If a restaurant doesn’t have one entree, I have a second one in mind. If I can’t find something in my size, I have something else that could do just as well.

From the outside it can look a bit hyper-vigilant, I know. Here’s the kicker: I often imagine that even though my hope is that Plan A works out, there’s a part of me that spends a lot of time getting okay with Plan B. I’m always preparing to get the consolation prize. I’m not sure what that says about me. Is it a positive attitude that makes me “choose” two options that would both work? Or is it a negative attitude that prepares to not get what I want the first time?

This is tricky. I have “Plan B’d” for so long, I thought it was worth some reflection…what if I just held the one thought: I get Plan A? I’m sure I would always be able to bounce back, but what if I just hung out in imagining and savoring the taste of the dish that I wanted to eat, rather than being okay with my second choice?

That splits our energy a lot. Imagine if someone came up to you, asked you what you wanted, and you said, “Well if I can have anything I want, I’d like a trip to Scotland. And if I can’t have that, I’ll take a trip to Hawaii.” The question wasn’t to offer up your runner up, it was just to share what you wanted. Clearly.

I do see some value in being able to be flexible, of course. But I want to make sure that I don’t really spend too much time giving the Powers That Be ANY reason to give me the less desirable thing. Thinking about getting that job, or winning the competition is the vision, so plan for that. Take action toward that. Any time spent outside of thinking about what you truly want just dilutes the intention.