Growing up I always heard people around me telling me that it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan (a.k.a. the infamous Plan B). They would go on and on about how likely things would go south and that we should have something to fall back on. It was ingrained in my head so much that I did in fact start making backup plans. Fresh out of high school and already planning on another route to go in case I failed at whatever I was doing. Ditch your backup plan.
Murphy’s Law Nonsense
The popular saying of Murphy’s Law was ever so present in my head. That really, really sucks when you think about it. “Whatever can go wrong will go wrong.” I am not liking that saying at all these days. It’s because I finally understand how toxic that mode of life can really be for people who are trying to advance. Be it with internal growth, external growth, or both.
The saying/belief is basically setting you up to fail because it’s expected to be the immediate outcome of whatever you are doing at the time. Why do we have this mentality? I absolutely believe failing is an important tool for us to use to move the needle forward, but anticipation is what gets me. If we anticipate it then our minds are focused on that end result instead of reaching the finish line.
If you think it, it will be
Oddly enough I think that the brain really hones in on the potential failure. Something in our primal thinking or something. I read it online somewhere so that must be true, right?! If we make a backup plan then our efforts can never really be 100% all-in on our original goal. I am now understanding that you can’t do things at their best if the efforts are going to be divided.
My belief is that I had so many backup plans in my different jobs/careers that I have basically made myself recession-proof. I mean hey that’s kinda cool when you think about it because it shows that I hope may never end up on the streets, but damn. I have been a part of so many different fields of work throughout my life. Some I consciously chose the different paths as a backup and/or my ADHD left me bored and unfulfilled.
As I learn more about myself I realize that the Plan B thing is not the way to go for me anymore. I have put all my chips into Ridiculously Enjoy Life and I know I won’t fail. I won’t fail because I know that this is what I am meant to do. I’ve stumbled along the way, but more core belief is that I will succeed and I am! Knowing that you are meant to do something is extremely powerful and I treasure it. Change your mindset!
Conclusion
We should remove the belief that we need a backup plan in case things fail because our brains will naturally go in that direction. At that point, we will be trying to build up the Plan B so much so that we could potentially lose sight of our original goal. Why do that?
Know that you can do it. Believe it and go for it 100%!
Question
Why do you have a Plan C along with your Plan B? Do you really not believe in your original Plan? The O.G. Plan.
