When Things Don’t Go as Planned: Finding Your Way to Peace

It’s no secret that I’m highly goal-oriented. This trait has served me well as a leader, enabling me to plan for success while anticipating and preparing for unexpected challenges. Yet, recently, one of my projects veered completely off course—a shock that left me reeling for days.

I revisited the initial project plan, meticulously reviewed the risks and weaknesses we had identified, and combed through our strengths and opportunities to find a way forward. Despite my best efforts, nothing in the original analysis seemed to explain or predict the outcome. I was at a complete loss.

In the wake of this unexpected failure, I found myself struggling, feeling isolated in my confusion as I wrestled with how to lead through what felt like a personal and professional setback.

Then, during a phone call with my mom, she offered me an unexpected solution: think about something else. It was such a simple, elegant answer to the complexity I was facing. She encouraged me to let my mind relax, shift my focus, and create space—for solutions, acceptance, or both.

How often do we find ourselves hyper-focused on searching for answers, only to overlook the power of stepping away? Sometimes, it’s in the moments of pause that creativity flows and clarity emerges.

When faced with challenges, do you allow yourself the time and space to create? Do you step outside your internal dialogue to consider answers that may not fit within the framework of your original plan? This mindset—this simple act of letting go—can be a transformative tool for navigating personal and professional difficulties.

As the Beatles famously sang, “Let it be.” You might be surprised by how quickly the answers you’ve been searching for surface when you give yourself the grace to pause.

Be kind to yourself on your journey. Life is tough, but you are enough.

With gratitude and love,
Melisa