Are you Choosing Option A or Option B?
Are You Choosing Option A or Option B? Understanding Competing Priorities Can Change Everything
We often hear the saying: life is just a series of choices.
And while that makes sense intellectually, most of us know—it’s not always that simple when we’re trying to make meaningful change.
For years, I saw life as either/or. I was either “on track” or “off track.” Either succeeding or failing. I knew what I should be doing to reach my goals—but for some reason, I couldn’t stick with it long enough to see results that lasted.
Then one day, I heard someone speak about the concept of competing priorities. They said that before we can change a behavior, we have to bring awareness to the options we’re weighing up—consciously or unconsciously.
That hit home.
In any moment, I realised I was oscillating between:
Option A: Working toward my goal
Option B: Doing what felt comfortable or easy in the moment
The truth is, both options had appeal.
Option A was what I wanted long-term: to grow, to stretch, to feel proud of myself, to become someone who could follow through.
But Option B was seductive in the moment. It offered comfort. Relief. Escape. It let me avoid the temporary discomfort of pushing through resistance, uncertainty, or boredom.
When you’re trying to create change—whether it’s launching a business, changing careers, setting boundaries, or sticking with a new habit—this tug-of-war is real.
And understanding why Option B keeps winning can give you the clarity to choose differently.
Why Option B Feels So Good (Even When It’s Getting in Your Way)
Let’s get honest. Option B often protects us. It’s the “safe” path. It means we don’t have to face fear, failure, or rejection. It means we get to stay comfortable and avoid hard emotions like boredom, stress, or frustration.
Sometimes those habits or choices—scrolling, snacking, saying yes when we mean no, procrastinating—are simply how we’ve learned to cope.
And often, they’ve been reinforced by culture, family, or even warm memories. Maybe you associate success with overworking. Or connection with food. Or rest with guilt. These associations don’t make you weak or wrong—they make you human.
But they can get in the way of Option A.
So What Can You Do?
First, get curious.
What are you really choosing instead of your goal? What need is that choice meeting? And how could you meet that need in a different way?
For example:
If you always skip your morning routine because you’re exhausted, maybe what you need is an earlier bedtime—not more willpower.
If you delay launching your business because it’s scary, maybe you need support, structure, or accountability.
If you ditch your plan when you’re stressed, maybe you need better strategies to unwind—ones that actually leave you feeling better, not worse.
Once you understand the pull of Option B, you can plan for it. You can build a system that supports you when you hit the messy middle.
Who Do You Want to Become?
This is the real magic:
When you consistently choose Option A, even in small ways, you start to become someone different.
Someone who honours her commitments.
Someone who can feel discomfort without running.
Someone who has her own back—no matter what.
To stick with change, it helps to keep your eye on the version of you you’re becoming. What does she gain? How does she feel? What does life look like when she shows up fully for herself?
Ready to Try It?
If you’ve been struggling to reach a goal or stick with change, consider what other option you're really choosing instead. Bring it to light. Get honest. Get kind. Then build a strategy that supports you to choose Option A—again and again.
🖤 Click here to download my free “Option A or B” worksheet and start making decisions that move you forward.
