A dear friend of mine was struggling with a decision: should she stay in her relationship or get out? There were a lot of challenges in leaving, and she felt torn. She looked for a sign that would tell her what to do.
She listened for someone else’s direction, looked for a highway alert, and even secretly wished for a moment when the relationship would culminate into something bad enough that the answer was obvious. The problem was – she was looking in the wrong place. She was looking for a sign outside of herself.
When you’re trying to make a decision, don’t bother to look for an external sign. Instead, pay attention to the internal ones. Listen to your heart, body and intuition.
Cheesy? Simplified? Perhaps. Still true.
Heart
If you’re struggling with a decision – one great question to ask yourself is “What do I value?” Getting clear on your values is another way to hear the voice of the heart. It will help you make the decision.
For example, you might value feeling fulfilled every day, keeping your commitments, feeling empowered, reaching your potential, or helping others. These are all things people value. It’s important to be clear about yours (though they may look different from someone else’s) to guide your decisions.
Body
Notice your physical reaction as you imagine the outcome of each option. Oftentimes, our body can give the clearest answer.
Intuition
A fabulous practice that will help you get in touch with your intuition is meditation. Quiet moments when you can center yourself and focus on your breathing will help you tune into your intuition and internal compass for your decision making.
If you’re interested in learning more about meditation and its benefits, there is a ton of information online. Deepak Chopra’s site is a favorite. He offers free meditation series, explains the health benefits of meditation, and describes best practices. http://www.chopra.com
What difficult decisions have you needed to make recently? Did you listen to your heart, body and mind, or did you look for an external sign? Drop a comment in the area below to join the conversation.
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