People have many reasons for avoiding plans and goals. A recurring reason is the fear of failure. Some see setting a goal or making a plan as a commitment which you either achieve or you do not. You succeed or you fail. Success may be great. Failure, on the other hand, is a disaster, worthy of disparaging judgment and criticism. The reality is that the options are not binary. Indeed, the reality couldn’t be further from that binary misconception. Are you ready right now for the infinite options beyond success and failure?
Let me explain. If you make a plan or set a goal, there are at least four possible options. You may get what you want and be delighted. Alternatively, you may get something other than what you want and feel disappointed. Binary choices. However, have you ever been in the situation where you got exactly what you wanted and felt disappointed, underwhelmed? Equally, plans go awry, and we discover that we’re having a great time with the alternative, whatever that is.
Add to this the possibility that you, in part, get what you want. You also get something other than what you want. Which one outweighs the other? The outcomes then become a spectrum, with infinite possibilities and variations.
Now think about all that you learn and discover as you take steps to realise your plans and goals. You gain knowledge and information. Suddenly, new options and choices open up. Opportunities that you didn’t know existed come into your awareness.
This leads me to a crucial point. No plan, no goal is set in stone. You can change your mind at any time. Obviously, you can amend or discard your plans. As you become more by pursuing what you set out to achieve, you may well discover something which is even more exciting, even more compelling than the original plan or goal. Adjust your course, re-evaluate what you want, and then go for it.
Of course, sometimes things just work out in a way that is different from what we want. It’s OK to be disappointed, frustrated, or whatever negative emotion affects you. It’s what you do next that really counts. Give up and abandon all hope is one option. They’re the bitter people, bemoaning their lot and how life treats them so badly.
Alternatively, you can look at what you did, what you can do differently to get to where you want to be, and then take the next step. It may be challenging. And, what made you think that it was all going to be so easy?
If you know what you do next, do it now. If you’re not sure, book an initial consultation here, and then take the next step. You know that you can do it, and you know that it makes sense, don’t you?
