I’ve always been a Leaper and never a Plan B-er, but I never boldly declared it like you did. I went all-in, with high hopes and not enough clarity of vision, and fear of failure got the best of me. Though I have a weird relationship with money, it’s more to do with unworthiness than dollar bills.
This time, I’m feeling the shift of energy in myself. It’s gone from yin to yang and I actually see that money and taking what is there for me to take is the masculine energy I have struggled with in this lifetime. Taking my deserved space. I’m working through breaking down my fears and meeting them with determination and willingness to stay open to receiving the success I deserve. I am committed to success and working through my blocks in a way I haven’t before.
That shift you’re describing — from “hopeful but shaky” to committed and sovereign — is everything. It’s not about being reckless or blind anymore. It’s about letting go of the grip fear had on the steering wheel and finally saying, I’m driving this time.
I love that you named the masculine energy of taking up space, claiming what’s yours, saying yes to the deservedness of success. That’s not about ego. That’s healing. That’s restoration. That’s the part so many of us were trained to suppress — to be sweet, quiet, grateful, low-maintenance. But you’re flipping that script.
No more rehearsing failure. No more second-guessing your belonging. This is what it looks like to build trust with yourself: not needing a Plan B because you are the plan. Soul-led. Willing. Receiving. And rewriting the story in real time.
You're not just committed to success — you're becoming the version of you who can hold it.
Thank you for confirming my vision! I actually ‘saw’ a vision of a man from the chin down, almost like a cover of a romance novel (of which I have read many!). It’s also tied in with my Year of the Broad, which is also masculine energy at its essence. Exciting times!
I wish both women and men could connect to both energies throughout our lives (might make the world a better place), but it seems to be a later in life thing for so many of us.
It's really hard to not go immediately to the worst case scenario. Of course planning is good but I'm starting consider letting go of some of it. There's stuff that I can control - my own reactions - but beyond that? Yes, do what's sensible and appropriate but bad stuff will happen. Many of us, like me, have been viciously criticized when bad stuff happens that we really couldn't foresee or avoid. That feels awful but I need to get past it.
You’re absolutely right — it is complicated. Especially for those of us who’ve lived through seasons where the worst did happen, and where we were blamed or shamed for it. That kind of history doesn’t just disappear. It wires the nervous system to scan for danger before possibility. To cling to Plan B like a life raft, just in case.
But you’re starting to shift, and that’s powerful. Letting go of overplanning isn’t about being reckless. It’s about refusing to live inside worst-case rehearsals. It’s about trusting that we have the inner wiring to meet what comes, without spending our days bracing for disaster that may never arrive.
You’re already practicing that — noticing what you can control (your reactions), and releasing what you can’t. That’s the rewire. That’s how we learn to live without carrying the weight of every what-if.
And you don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to keep noticing when fear wants to write the story... and gently take the pen back.
Isn’t it wild how just one decision — one refusal to prepare for failure — can shake loose everything we thought we needed to hold on to?
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to revise out of shame. You get to revise out of power. Out of clarity. Out of alignment with the version of you who doesn’t need to hedge your bets because you are the bet.
No backup plan. Just soul forward.
You’re already in motion. That “wow” is the sound of a shift beginning.
I was a Plan A-er with Zero Plan B, living in NYC, when starting my freelance business, willing to do what felt uncomfortable (cold calling) because Plan A was the only plan. It worked. My spirit was all in. After years my spirit had more ideas - leaping into an abyss of the night of the soul. Followed that, too, into its unknown realm, being held in enough financial security to tear down my initial dreams and become a lover of soul, mine, everyone's. Soul is a Plan A-er.
This was a wonderful message. It reminded me of when I had to take a big leap to become the person I was meant to be instead of the person I thought I was supposed to be.
It took a big push and lots of encouragement, but I went back to school and became a teacher at 42. I sat is a cohort with a lot of kids who were half my age 😂. And I became an elementary school teacher and I loved it! Within 3 years, I discovered my grade level -3rd grade. And over and over again, I took on whatever kids came my way and taught them as best I could. We had fun together, and the 8 year old in me, never got tired of figuring out questions to ask kids about our read aloud books. She never got tired of figuring out ways to get multiplication and division to make sense to kids. She never got tired of seeing kids catch on to reading, or learn to work well in groups, or get along on the playground. I loved leading those kids into discovery!
I am SO grateful I took the leap. Cancer and the pandemic caused me to lay down my dream job after 20 years. And I had a couple of quiet years of retirement. I learned how to knit and I traveled some. Now I have 4 little grandchildren who live 5 minutes away. I love them dearly, but I am feeling responsible more than I should. I need stronger boundaries around babysitting. I am free labor, and it’s draining me.
I want to leap back into being creative with my knitting and crocheting. I want to leap into theology and studying how religions have common threads that should draw them together, rather than apart. I want to explore new and old places. I want to write. I want to delve into what makes life so amazing.
This made my heart sing! Take the leap! Will it make those who want your free babysitting service uncomfortabe- sure- but so what? I raised my two kids without any grandparents around the entire time, as we lived too far away. It is actually possible to raise kids without dependency on grandparents. LOl. Imagnine living your day doing what you actually WANT to do instead of obligations taking your time and energy. Also, I love that you want to stud how religions have common threads. I think that would be an amazing substack!
I’ve always been a Leaper and never a Plan B-er, but I never boldly declared it like you did. I went all-in, with high hopes and not enough clarity of vision, and fear of failure got the best of me. Though I have a weird relationship with money, it’s more to do with unworthiness than dollar bills.
This time, I’m feeling the shift of energy in myself. It’s gone from yin to yang and I actually see that money and taking what is there for me to take is the masculine energy I have struggled with in this lifetime. Taking my deserved space. I’m working through breaking down my fears and meeting them with determination and willingness to stay open to receiving the success I deserve. I am committed to success and working through my blocks in a way I haven’t before.
I see you in this. So clearly.
That shift you’re describing — from “hopeful but shaky” to committed and sovereign — is everything. It’s not about being reckless or blind anymore. It’s about letting go of the grip fear had on the steering wheel and finally saying, I’m driving this time.
I love that you named the masculine energy of taking up space, claiming what’s yours, saying yes to the deservedness of success. That’s not about ego. That’s healing. That’s restoration. That’s the part so many of us were trained to suppress — to be sweet, quiet, grateful, low-maintenance. But you’re flipping that script.
No more rehearsing failure. No more second-guessing your belonging. This is what it looks like to build trust with yourself: not needing a Plan B because you are the plan. Soul-led. Willing. Receiving. And rewriting the story in real time.
You're not just committed to success — you're becoming the version of you who can hold it.
I’m cheering you on all the way.
Thank you for confirming my vision! I actually ‘saw’ a vision of a man from the chin down, almost like a cover of a romance novel (of which I have read many!). It’s also tied in with my Year of the Broad, which is also masculine energy at its essence. Exciting times!
I wish both women and men could connect to both energies throughout our lives (might make the world a better place), but it seems to be a later in life thing for so many of us.
It's really hard to not go immediately to the worst case scenario. Of course planning is good but I'm starting consider letting go of some of it. There's stuff that I can control - my own reactions - but beyond that? Yes, do what's sensible and appropriate but bad stuff will happen. Many of us, like me, have been viciously criticized when bad stuff happens that we really couldn't foresee or avoid. That feels awful but I need to get past it.
It's pretty complicated stuff!
You’re absolutely right — it is complicated. Especially for those of us who’ve lived through seasons where the worst did happen, and where we were blamed or shamed for it. That kind of history doesn’t just disappear. It wires the nervous system to scan for danger before possibility. To cling to Plan B like a life raft, just in case.
But you’re starting to shift, and that’s powerful. Letting go of overplanning isn’t about being reckless. It’s about refusing to live inside worst-case rehearsals. It’s about trusting that we have the inner wiring to meet what comes, without spending our days bracing for disaster that may never arrive.
You’re already practicing that — noticing what you can control (your reactions), and releasing what you can’t. That’s the rewire. That’s how we learn to live without carrying the weight of every what-if.
And you don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to keep noticing when fear wants to write the story... and gently take the pen back.
You’re doing that. Beautifully.
Thanks so much. Understanding that it's a process, not a destination really helps
Wow.
I have a lot to revise…
Isn’t it wild how just one decision — one refusal to prepare for failure — can shake loose everything we thought we needed to hold on to?
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to revise out of shame. You get to revise out of power. Out of clarity. Out of alignment with the version of you who doesn’t need to hedge your bets because you are the bet.
No backup plan. Just soul forward.
You’re already in motion. That “wow” is the sound of a shift beginning.
Let it happen.
I was a Plan A-er with Zero Plan B, living in NYC, when starting my freelance business, willing to do what felt uncomfortable (cold calling) because Plan A was the only plan. It worked. My spirit was all in. After years my spirit had more ideas - leaping into an abyss of the night of the soul. Followed that, too, into its unknown realm, being held in enough financial security to tear down my initial dreams and become a lover of soul, mine, everyone's. Soul is a Plan A-er.
2 THOUGHTS: I lLOVE that " soul is a Plan A-er" ! and where in NYC?? I lived in the upperwestside for years. Left in 2004. 83rd and b'way.
I wonder if we overlapped! I lived in the village at the edge of Soho from 1974-1985
Naw, I did not arrive until 1990
Many thanks Monica - found the PDF Breakthrough- found it in my spam folder.
Ah the spammiest of spams! :)
This was a wonderful message. It reminded me of when I had to take a big leap to become the person I was meant to be instead of the person I thought I was supposed to be.
It took a big push and lots of encouragement, but I went back to school and became a teacher at 42. I sat is a cohort with a lot of kids who were half my age 😂. And I became an elementary school teacher and I loved it! Within 3 years, I discovered my grade level -3rd grade. And over and over again, I took on whatever kids came my way and taught them as best I could. We had fun together, and the 8 year old in me, never got tired of figuring out questions to ask kids about our read aloud books. She never got tired of figuring out ways to get multiplication and division to make sense to kids. She never got tired of seeing kids catch on to reading, or learn to work well in groups, or get along on the playground. I loved leading those kids into discovery!
I am SO grateful I took the leap. Cancer and the pandemic caused me to lay down my dream job after 20 years. And I had a couple of quiet years of retirement. I learned how to knit and I traveled some. Now I have 4 little grandchildren who live 5 minutes away. I love them dearly, but I am feeling responsible more than I should. I need stronger boundaries around babysitting. I am free labor, and it’s draining me.
I want to leap back into being creative with my knitting and crocheting. I want to leap into theology and studying how religions have common threads that should draw them together, rather than apart. I want to explore new and old places. I want to write. I want to delve into what makes life so amazing.
Ooh! I want to leap!!
This made my heart sing! Take the leap! Will it make those who want your free babysitting service uncomfortabe- sure- but so what? I raised my two kids without any grandparents around the entire time, as we lived too far away. It is actually possible to raise kids without dependency on grandparents. LOl. Imagnine living your day doing what you actually WANT to do instead of obligations taking your time and energy. Also, I love that you want to stud how religions have common threads. I think that would be an amazing substack!
Monica, I just opened my FB page to the monks and discovered this passage. Please share your thoughts.
For the woman missing her younger self, here is how the Buddha’s wisdom helps 🪞
You catch your reflection in a store window or the bathroom mirror, and for a split second, you don't recognize the woman looking back.
You pull the skin of your cheek back slightly. You think, "I look so tired."
You remember the girl you used to be, the smooth skin, the energy, the feeling that time was endless.
You feel a quiet grief.
Society tells you that you are "fading."
But the Buddha taught that you are not losing anything. You are simply moving from one form of beauty to a higher one.
🍂 The Beauty of "Jara" (Ripening)
In the modern world, we treat aging like a disease that needs to be "cured" with creams and dyes.
But in the Dhamma, the concept of "Jara" (Aging) is not a tragedy. It is a Truth.
The Buddha didn't see aging as "withering." He saw it as Ripening.
Think of a green mango. It is smooth and firm, yet hard and sour. It hasn't lived yet.
A mango that has aged is soft. It has spots. But it is sweet. It is full of flavor.
You are not withering, dear friend. You are finally becoming sweet.
🌳 The Flower vs. The Ancient Tree
Here is the shift in perspective you need today:
Society only teaches us to admire the Flower.
A flower is bright, colorful, and smooth. But its beauty is fragile. One strong wind, and the petals fall. It has no history.
The Buddha found his enlightenment not under a flower, but under a Tree.
Look at an ancient Banyan or Oak tree. Its bark is rough. It has deep grooves and lines.
Why is it beautiful? Because it has survived.
Those grooves are not "flaws." They are the map of every storm it withstood.
Your wrinkles are not cracks in the foundation; they are the roots that hold you steady.
📜 The Buddha's Specific Teaching: "Upajjhatthana"
To cure the fear of aging, the Buddha gave a specific prescription called the "Five Daily Remembrances" (Upajjhatthana Sutta).
He instructed his followers to chant these five truths every day, not to make them sad, but to make them free.
The First Remembrance is the one you need today:
“Jaradhammomhi jaram anatito.”
(I am of the nature to grow old. I have not gone beyond aging.)
When you say this, aging becomes a teacher, not an enemy.
You stop fighting reality and say to your heart: 'Of course. This is just nature.'
When we admit this truth, we stop trying to be the "Green Mango." We allow ourselves to finally ripen.
🐾 The Lesson from the Road
Look at the photos of the Monks walking.
Many of them are not young men. Their faces are weathered by the sun and the wind of 2,300 miles.
But do they look "faded"?
No. They look solid.
Think of Aloka.
When he walks, he passes thousands of beautiful wildflowers. They are bright and pretty, but he ignores them when he is tired.
Why? Because a flower offers no shelter.
When he needs to rest, he seeks the shade of the Monks.
He leans against their strong legs. He finds safety in their solid, weathered presence.
Your family finds safety in yours. They don't need you to be a pretty flower anymore. They need you to be their shade.
💊 Your Prescription for Today (Real Life Application)
Now, let's turn that ancient wisdom into a real action.
Next time you look in the mirror, catch that hand before it pulls your skin back.
Instead, try this:
* Trace the line near your eye with your finger.
Don't see it as a wrinkle. See it as a memory.
Say to yourself: "This line is from the time I laughed until I cried at my sister's wedding."
* Trace the line on your forehead.
Say: "This line is from the nights I stayed up protecting my children."
Your face is not a ruined canvas. It is a finished masterpiece.
The Buddha asked us to see the truth of aging so we could stop fighting it and start honoring it.
Do not erase your history. Wear it like a crown.
Want to read daily wisdom like this? ☮️☸️
Follow my page to see all my stories (past & future) collected in one place:
👉🏻 The Mindful Walk
I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE THIS LINE: You are not withering, dear friend. You are finally becoming sweet.