Do you have a plan B?

Most people live their lives without a plan B. They drift along without definite purpose and thus not expecting much out of it. When something out of the ordinary happens, they panicked and get into a state of daze for a while. They wake up when someone pushes them or when they realize that they need to bounce back.

Some never came back. You've heard of people who took their own lives when the stock market crashed, when their deep kept secrets were made known to the public or when they just couldn't cope with what's happening. Some wasted their remaining lives by turning to drugs or alcohol when they messed up.

A tragedy like the Tsunami, which hit the northern state of Malaysia, was something that was beyond anyone's control. The fishermen lost their homes and only source of income. But what if they had some savings or investments? What if they had acquired another skill to supplement their incomes? Wouldn't it have been easier for them to rebuild their lives instead of waiting for the government to come to their aids?

Unlike such a tragedy, events in your life are within control. Though you aren't certain of what is going to happen in the future, you do have a considerable amount of choices and decisions to make that would affect it.

One of the best ways to get yourself prepared is to have a Plan B or another option. If a thing doesn't work out or turned out bad, you can work on the next thing. That way, you wouldn't find yourself caught by surprise and not knowing what to do next.

Don't get caught up with your routines and take life for granted. By now, you should have determined your goals in life and planned out the strategies as well as given yourself a few options.

Your plan B should include working on your personal growth. The best you will get from making consistent self-improvements is acquiring a "possibility attitude." When your outlook is optimistic, you are able to cope with setbacks and start over as fast as you can.

It's true that you should expect the best from life because your expectations attract the like of your thoughts. But most times you aren't aware of what you are subconsciously attracting into your life. You may say something outwardly and thinking something else that are in conflict.

That, together with lack of preparation, will cause the things that you thought you never wanted to happen. Try to be in an aware state of mind as much as possible. Always think of the consequences of your actions and your thoughts. Recalibrate them and make adjustment every time you find yourself off course.

If you know where you are heading and have a Plan B in store, you will move confidently and dare take more risks because you know that whatever happens, you are prepared and can handle it.

If you haven't thought about your Plan B yet, start today to list down your goals and your action steps. At the same time, write some questions and answers. Ask yourself the "what if", "so what if" questions and "what then"?

• What if I lose my job? What would I do then?

• What if my plan doesn't work out? Do I have another choice?

• What if my spouse abandons me? Can I live on my own?

• Is this the only way to do it? What if I try another?

• What if I lose everything tomorrow? How will I react? What would I do next?

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