Hi,
This is Teresa Conte.
I don't know about you,
But sometimes I've had a difficult time making decisions.
Fear of missing out or being wrong can leave us feeling immobilized.
If you're feeling stuck or uncertain about your direction,
Today I'd like to share six practices for making good decisions and I hope you find them helpful.
But first I'd like to share a quote by Susan Jeffers.
She says,
The knowledge that you can handle anything that comes your way is the key to allowing yourself to take risk.
So for me,
This is really all about developing confidence.
So a few questions for you.
Do you suffer from procrastination?
Do you have a difficult time knowing what to do,
How to deal it,
Or when?
If so,
Believe me,
You are not alone.
Decision-making can be stressful.
Weighing options and the uncertainty that comes from stepping into the unknown can make us question our thinking,
Elicit feelings of anxiety,
And stop us in our tracks.
Whether you're anticipating changing jobs,
Making a major purchase,
Or contemplating who to hire for a project that's been sitting on the back burner,
There are several practices I've found that help to build trust and move us forward.
See which of the following practices resonate with you.
Try one or try them all.
Whichever you choose,
Each one will help to free a block that's been keeping you feeling stuck.
So here we go.
Practice number one.
Live in the moment.
Release your expectations and painful outcomes from the past.
Rather than obsessing about what might happen as a result of a decision that you're making or what you did or did not do in the past,
Affirm that today is a new day,
That the past is over,
And the future can't be predicted.
Take a breath and if you like,
Journal on the question,
What is the best action for me to take at this time regarding whatever decision it is that you're contemplating making?
See what comes out in your journaling practice.
I'm a big fan of this and I find the practice very insightful.
Perhaps you will as well.
Practice number two.
When in doubt,
Don't.
Forcing the solution before it's time adds undue stress and can prevent new ideas from surfacing.
Sometimes we're so uncomfortable with sitting in the unknown that we just want to make something happen,
But I've noticed for myself when I've done this,
I've always regretted the results.
So try letting go instead.
Refocus your attention and give yourself and the situation you're deliberating about some space.
Trust that the guidance,
Answers,
And directions you seek will present themselves likely when least expected.
For instance,
Insights seem to come to many of us when we're taking a shower,
When we're out for a walk,
Watching a show,
Reading a book,
And we're talking to a friend because our minds aren't so focused on the problem at hand or the decision we're trying to make.
Practice number three.
Face your fears.
If you're worried about making a wrong choice,
Start by making small ones.
Write your decisions down in a notepad or journal and begin taking the actions that align with them.
For instance,
If you'd like to go back to school,
Start investigating the colleges that offer the programs you're interested in.
If you'd like to visit a friend in another city or even in another country,
Begin looking into the cost of flights,
Where they go,
And what's involved in making your travel plans.
Should you experience an unpleasant result,
Trust that you can handle it,
As Susan Jeffers so wisely said,
And re-evaluate the situation.
Making small decisions will strengthen your ability and increase your confidence.
So again,
It's a great place to start.
Even deciding what you're going to have for breakfast and affirming that at the end of the day can serve to build confidence.
Practice number four.
Reality check.
Make a list of all the good decisions you've made to date and add to it daily.
Re-read it as necessary.
As I said previously,
Even deciding things like what to wear,
What to eat for breakfast,
Whether or not to call a friend,
Simple things that are part of our daily rituals and habits can really serve to develop confidence when you actually look at them and evaluate the results from them.
For instance,
I sometimes have thought,
My goodness,
I haven't accomplished very much today.
But then if I write down what I've done during the day,
I'm often amazed at how much I've actually achieved.
So it's the same with decision making.
Note what results come from the good decisions that you're making.
Practice number five.
Do the next right thing.
When feeling overwhelmed,
Rather than focusing on the big picture,
Chunk it down and do the next right thing.
This will reduce your anxiety and develop a foundation of trust.
Each step will need to lead to the next and will eventually guide you exactly where you're meant to be.
Sometimes the next right thing is simply going for a walk,
Having a drink of water,
Calling a friend.
It doesn't have to be anything major or significant.
Practice number six.
Appreciation.
Acknowledge yourself for taking the actions you're taking and trying something new.
Life is meant to be lived one day at a time.
Have fun and most importantly,
Enjoy the journey.
Wishing you a happy,
Healthy day.
Bye-bye for now.
