When I examine my first Choice Map from a decade ago—that initial map about attending a coaching event—what catches my eye isn’t the structure or even the content. It’s the white space. Beyond those early branches of connections and opportunities lay a vast open area waiting to be filled. Back then, I couldn’t have imagined what would emerge in that space—the relationships, opportunities, and even Choice Mapping itself. That blank space held possibilities I couldn’t yet see.
The Space Between Intention and Unfolding
Choice Mapping has taught me something fascinating about how possibilities emerge in our lives. When you make a choice with clear intention, you set something in motion. Yet the most meaningful opportunities often arrive in ways you couldn’t have planned.
I watched this unfold beautifully with Claire, a client who mapped her choice to start teaching art. Her initial map focused on practical steps—getting certified, finding studio space, developing curricula. But as she stayed open to what emerged, something unexpected happened. A conversation with a fellow teacher led to an opportunity teaching art therapy. Another connection opened doors to working with veterans. Her choice to teach art blossomed into something far richer than she’d initially imagined.
Beyond Either/Or Thinking
One of the gifts I love most about mapping is how it naturally expands how you see your choices. Rather than getting caught in either/or thinking—should I take this job or that one, pursue this path or that one—mapping opens your vision to new possibilities.
The Gift of Open Space
When my clients first learn to map, they often want to fill every branch, close every gap. But over time, they discover something profound: the empty space on their maps holds as much potential as the filled areas. This space represents possibility—room for the unexpected, the not-yet-imagined, the about-to-emerge.
I remember Rebecca’s journey with this concept. A detailed planner by nature, she initially approached her career transition map determined to plot every step. As she learned to leave space for possibility, something shifted. “The gaps in my map used to make me anxious,” she shared. “Now they excite me. They’re like doorways waiting to open.”
This lesson came alive for me years ago while mapping my own choice about writing a book. Had I filled every branch with my carefully laid plans, I might have missed the unexpected invitation to teach workshops, which eventually led to developing Choice Mapping as a methodology. Sometimes our most significant opportunities arrive through doors we didn’t even know to include on our maps.
Noticing What Emerges
Through years of mapping both my own choices and working with clients, I’ve developed what I call “noticing what you notice”—a particular kind of awareness about how possibilities unfold. It’s like developing a new sense, one that helps you recognize the subtle ways life responds to your choices.
I remember working with Thomas, who mapped his choice to shift careers. At first, he focused only on obvious pathways. But as he practiced staying alert to what emerged, he began noticing seemingly random connections. A conversation at his daughter’s soccer game led to an unexpected mentorship. An article he happened across opened up a whole new direction he hadn’t considered. “It’s like the map gave me permission to see opportunities I was missing before,” he told me.
Creating Space for Surprise
The practice invites an intriguing balance in mapping future possibilities—being clear about what matters to you while staying open to how it might unfold. Think of it like planning a journey. You want to know your destination, but some of the most memorable moments often come from unexpected detours.
Anna’s story illustrates this beautifully. Mapping her choice to write a book, she was initially focused on a traditional publishing path. But as she stayed open to possibilities, she discovered a whole community of independent authors. This led her to create a unique hybrid approach—self-publishing while collaborating with other writers. “If I’d stuck to my original plan,” she shared, “I would have missed this whole other way of bringing my work into the world.”
When Possibilities Multiply
One of the most beautiful patterns I’ve witnessed through mapping is how possibilities tend to multiply. A client maps what seems like a straightforward choice about taking a course, and suddenly they notice related opportunities everywhere. Another explores a small shift in their daily routine, which cascades into transformative life changes.
Lisa’s story illustrates this perfectly. She began mapping her choice to join a local writing group—seemingly a simple decision about how to spend her Tuesday evenings. But as she stayed open to what emerged, that one choice blossomed in unexpected ways. The writing group led to a collaboration on a community project, which opened doors to facilitating workshops, which eventually inspired her to launch a creative mentoring program.
“If you’d told me all this would unfold from that first choice,” Lisa told me recently, “I wouldn’t have believed you. But mapping helped me stay open to each new possibility as it appeared.”
The Dance of Intention and Allowing
This is where mapping becomes truly magical—in the dance between taking conscious action and allowing things to unfold. Each branch you add to your map becomes both a declaration of what you want and an invitation for possibility to enter.
I’ve watched this dance play out countless times. A client maps their choice to start a community project, and suddenly people with aligned visions start appearing in their life. Another explores changing careers, and opportunities for learning and connection emerge from unexpected places. It’s not magic—it’s what becomes possible when you bring both clarity and openness to your choices.
Your Invitation to Possibility
The blank space on your map isn’t empty—it’s full of potential. As you continue mapping your choices, notice not just the branches you create, but the space between them. That’s where unexpected possibilities often emerge.
Remember my first map? That white space eventually filled with connections, opportunities, and possibilities I couldn’t have planned. Your maps hold the same potential—to reveal pathways you might not see yet, to open doors you didn’t know existed.
In the articles that follow, I share specific techniques for working with both intention and allowing. For now, consider one choice you’re exploring. What possibilities might open up if you held both clear intention and openness to surprise? See how Choice Mapping supports you in navigating life’s significant decisions.
Explore Choice Mapping Further
Get your copy of The Book of Choice or discover mapping firsthand in my free interactive workshop: The Creative Art of Choice Mapping.
Check out the Choice Mapping Series
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