Decision-Making Dilemma: How to “Know” which path to follow so you’re led to the Right Decision

Hot date on match.com or the guy-next-door who smiles at you every morning?
Sales & Marketing position or High School teacher?
Day job to pay the bills or dream job that fulfils your heart’s desire?
Decisions, decisions, decisions. We’ve all been there. And the one constant about them is we have to make them as long as we have breath in our body.
Pink dress or blue? Chocolate chip cookie or cheesecake? Mall or movie? It goes on and on and on, from the moment we wake up until we fall asleep.
It’s not that big a deal when you’re in line at Starbucks and have to decide between a tall mocha latte and a grande frappucino. But how do you know you’re making the right decision when you have to choose between two positions you’ve interviewed for (considering that all other advantages are equal) or which neighborhood to pick to buy a home or whether to move continents?
It’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons.
It’s also good to consider all the practical aspects of the decision.
But is it good to do something because everyone else does it that way? It’s called playing safe. And is there such a thing as playing safe?
Not really, right.
Life comes with no guarantees. The rug under your feet could be pulled in seconds.
So what do you do?
Here’s what I do when I am faced with a crucial decision:
• Pray and meditate. Most times I don’t know what is for my own highest good. That’s why I need divine assistance. I may be tempted to make the “right” choice based on all the aspects I mentioned above and play safe. But when I get still and let my still, small voice talk to me, I am guided. Sometimes, it’s very quiet. I hear nothing. But later in the day a book will topple from the shelf. In its title will be a message for me. Or, a car bumper sticker will scream a message. An email forward from a friend will contain just what I need to hear.
• Journaling. Old-fashioned advice? Maybe. It still works. All the garbage that’s recycling in your head is out on paper. Now you can mine for gold. It helps to ask a specific question: “What is the next step I need to take to find ideal clients?” You can even do this at bedtime. Write the question on a blank sheet of paper right before you fall asleep. When you’re asleep, all those competing voices shut up. It frees up your subconscious mind to work things out and bring the solution to the forefront. When you awaken the next morning, start writing. Yes, even before your feet hit the floor. Your censor is still snoring, remember? That’s the best time. Ideas and guidance on next steps show up in the scribbled pages.
• Ask: How does this feel in my body? This is the best way I am led to make decisions that are right for me. When I feel happy, eager, and excited, it is my Spirit going “Yes! Yes! Yes!” If, on the other hand, I feel a roiling in my gut or a sense of overwhelm or an I-don’t-have-a-good-feeling-about-this nudge, it’s my Spirit screaming “Don’t do it!”
Ask these questions to understand what your body is saying to you:
o does it make you happy?
o does the possibility energize you?
o are you looking forward to it?
o is there a sense of peace within?
o do you feel light in your body as you contemplate this decision?
Following your gut and inner guides is the best way to make decisions that are empowering and serve the highest good of all affected by that decision.