I bumped into a friend a few weeks ago and she shared that she was planning a wedding for her son who was about to be a parent in his early 20s. Though she told me she was stressed out by the news and all the trappings that go with planning a last-minute wedding and readying for an infant, I was excited by her impending role of grandmother and told her I guessed this was Plan B.
Though I was thrilled by the prospect of her Plan B, I realized that I often have trouble embracing the road less traveled in my own life. I often envision that things should be a certain way and people will act in certain ways when more often than not things don't pan out as I'd hoped. When they don't, I'm just as likely as the next person to get sad, angry and frustrated that Plan A blew up in my face. Usually the only thing that turns things around is thinking about how much of my life _ and probably everyone else's _ is really Plan B.
As much as we'd like to think that we're in control of our own destiny, so much about life and where it takes us is out of our hands. The trick is learning to recognize when Plan A is not working and embracing Plan B. In yoga speak, it's called non-clinging or letting go of that which no longer serves you to make room for something positive in your life. Yes, this is often easier said than done, but usually good things happen when you stop clinging to the notion of the way things ought to be. Just think about how much energy is wasted bemoaning rotten relationships, horrible bosses or fair weather friends.
Realizing when to let go of Plan A and embarking on Plan B is sometimes the trickiest part. If you happen to be a control freak, it may take you a little longer to realize it's time to let go. But ask yourself if the thing you are clinging to is really worth it and if it isn't, let it go and make room for something that truly is.
Though I was thrilled by the prospect of her Plan B, I realized that I often have trouble embracing the road less traveled in my own life. I often envision that things should be a certain way and people will act in certain ways when more often than not things don't pan out as I'd hoped. When they don't, I'm just as likely as the next person to get sad, angry and frustrated that Plan A blew up in my face. Usually the only thing that turns things around is thinking about how much of my life _ and probably everyone else's _ is really Plan B.
As much as we'd like to think that we're in control of our own destiny, so much about life and where it takes us is out of our hands. The trick is learning to recognize when Plan A is not working and embracing Plan B. In yoga speak, it's called non-clinging or letting go of that which no longer serves you to make room for something positive in your life. Yes, this is often easier said than done, but usually good things happen when you stop clinging to the notion of the way things ought to be. Just think about how much energy is wasted bemoaning rotten relationships, horrible bosses or fair weather friends.
Realizing when to let go of Plan A and embarking on Plan B is sometimes the trickiest part. If you happen to be a control freak, it may take you a little longer to realize it's time to let go. But ask yourself if the thing you are clinging to is really worth it and if it isn't, let it go and make room for something that truly is.