Soul Inspirations: Why backup plans suck!

Gooooood Morning Lovelies

Welcome back to my happy place, where I can be me, and you are free to be whoever it is you want to be too. 

So let's get straight to the point... 

Backup plans suck! 

Yes, you read correctly. 

To be honest, I used to be that girl that had a backup plan A, B and C. I am still that girl that needs a plan to feel like I have it all together, and am making some progress in my life, even if it is just to get up, make coffee and open a book of some sorts... Well, maybe not that simple, but close enough. I can only do 'nothing' for about 1 day before I get anxious, and my need to feel a bit productive. 

As a human I still like to have options, because this is just part of our nature. Having options helps us feel like we have control. Whether it be ordering food at a restaurant or deciding where to travel to next. 

Now maybe you are wondering... how did I go from that girl with those thoughts, to this statement? 

About a year or two ago, a close friend of mine, Phil, who has counselled me through quite a lot in my life, made this statement to me and I complete protested and disagreed. He told me that that "Back up plans are made to sabotage our main plan." 

It is like a failure fail safe. 

I argued and said, there was nothing wrong with being prepared! Saying OK.... I really really really want "X" but if I don't succeed for whatever reason, I will settle for "Y." And that my friend is the truth. We are what we repeatedly say and do 100%. 

Our words are magic. When you say those words, even in a jokingly way, you give them power. For example when you say, we will see if it works and if not we can always break up.

This is a mind-set with an escape plan. 

I had this in my previous relationship, and we broke up twice within a year. Until we stopped saying this, it was always a possibility of a reality. We then shifted our 'mind-set' from this is just an argument and we will work it out, (deleting the word breakup from our vocabulary), and we were very happy for another 5 years or so. Our insecurities of the other person leaving also disappeared. And this applies to every area of our life, whether it be work, diet, friends and so on. 

But that is not all that this post is about. Let me give you an example from my own life about how a backup plan became my main plan. 

When I worked at my last company in South Africa, a lot of things were changing. I had resigned and had made up my mind to go and study in the UK. This was what I had wanted at that point in my life 100%. My unsurety came through and I always jokingly said "Well if that doesn't work out, I can always go and be a teacher in Thailand." Yes... you got it... I have been a teacher in Thailand for 3 years now. It started out as a random opportunity and detour and somewhere along the way I fell completely in love with it. 

Time and time again, my back up plans have become my main plans, whether it be for something small on the weekend activity or big life changes like from UK to Thailand. 

Then Phil's words came rushing back to me, one sunny afternoon while I was probably riding on my bike somewhere, because for some reason I always get the best ideas or thoughts when I am nowhere near a pen, paper or computer. 

There is a time and a place for a backup plan, but when you are reaching for your dreams, this is not one of those places. Having a backup plan, can make you less committed to your goal, because you have a soft fluffy cushion to fall back on that you know will work, but this is not necessarily the thing that makes your heart flutter with joy and excitement. It means that you have accepted somewhere in your mind that you might fail. 


The people that have the best success stories and live fulfilled lives, are not the ones who went with the back up plans. They are the ones who stuck to their guns and stayed focused on what they truly wanted. 

This year I am throwing the backup plan out the window. I have faith in myself to deal with any obstacles as they come along and adjust my decisions accordingly as the time arises. It is scary, but it is the only way. So what if I am 32, unmarried, no kids and no massive achievements. I have gone places and seen things most people can only dream of, the way I see and dream of things that others have already conquered. Those that are more courageous and have climbed to the top of that mountain, traveled to more countries and just generally have their shit together. 

Are you brave enough to let go of the backup plan and fully commit to your goals and dreams?? 

Peace out 

Chanzie 
xxx 

Credit to: AZ Quotes for their awesome pictures