Major decisions in your life can come in many forms… marriage, starting a business, ending a business, changing jobs, changing careers, going back to school, picking a major, etc. Often times we can get our decision down to two or three options and then we struggle. Not wanting to make a mistake, we are caught paralyzed in the last step of deciding.
I have recently adopted a new method for these decisions that is so revealing that the decision makes itself.
First, list each option across the top of a page so that it will have a column and you can compare them when you are done. Your options might be as simple as yes and no or something more complicated. That’s OK.
For each option, ask yourself WHY you should pick that option. List your reasons out, as many as come to you. Try to be really honest with yourself here about why you are drawn to that option. Make your best possible argument for each option.
Then, for each reason why, boil it down to the one word emotional trigger that is at the root of that reason: greed, fear, ego, purpose, service, joy, love, hate, etc.
Think back on big decisions you have made in your life. What were the true emotional triggers for those decisions? How did it turn out for you? When did it go well? When did it go poorly? Are there patterns you can see?
I have found that when you get down to two options and just cannot decide, it is because your human mind (greed, ego, fear, hate, etc) is arguing with your soul (purpose, service, joy, love) and the answer will be shockingly clear. If you choose the option based on negative emotions, you will have a negative outcome. If you choose the option based on positive emotions, you will have a positive outcome.
It’s really that simple. What big decision have your been trying to make? What are the emotional roots of each side? Which side should you choose?
