In the last blog, I shared one of my favorite mantras that I use on a regular basis:
I have the ability to make any decision work for me.
It’s such a powerful mantra (affirmation) because it gives you ownership of your choices. It also takes the pressure off to make the perfect (or “right” or “best”) decision. And who doesn’t love it when the pressure can be released a bit?!
In this shortie blog, I am going to share one thing that might help you when it’s decision making time.
One of the most annoying things (and I say that with the utmost affection and respect) that my coach says to me when I am struggling with a decision is “Well, you don’t have enough information to make that decision. You need more information.”
MAJOR EYE ROLLS, FOLKS. (If I had a dollar for every time he has told me that, I’d be able to buy that FJallRaven down coat I’ve had my eye on. Just sayin’.)
Needless to say, he’s right (thank you very much). Oftentimes when I am anxious, upset, frustrated and uncertain about what I should do, it is usually because I don’t have enough information to ascertain what would be in my best interest.
Going back and gathering more information often warrants that eye roll, because it means you probably shouldn’t make any decision at that moment.
It means, there is more work to do, more time involved and sometimes, there may be an uncomfortability factor, if you have to talk things over with someone in your life.
What is called for is for me to gather more information. I need to ask more questions, do more research, and maybe journal about it so that I can gain more clarity. I may need to have harder conversations with those in my life to know where the other person is coming from or what they want to do (and why). This will help me make a more informed decision.
Gathering more information is crucial in making a decision, because it also means that the more information I have, the less I am going to second-guess myself. With more information, I can not only make a better, more informed decision, but I can make it with confidence.
If other people question my decision and I have done the work to gather enough information, it won’t matter what anyone else thinks about my decision. I can sleep well knowing that I did everything I could to make the best decision at the time with the information I had. AND, I can get another full night’s sleep knowing that even if it turns out to be not-the-best decision, I know that I can make any decision work me.
Here’s the rub, though…
What if you have gathered all the information you can, but there are still unanswered questions, doubts and trepidation?
Sometimes (probably most of the time) we may not know how to get more information. We may not know the questions to ask or we have simply hit a road block. WHAT THEN?
The simple and (maybe) unpopular answer is…you make the best decision you can with the information you have.
If you have done your due diligence, meaning, if you have gathered all the information you can, if you have used your reasoning skills, intellect and are listening to your instincts AND if you have gotten some advice along the way, what more is there? You take all that into consideration and make the best decision you can, given the intel you have.
AND THEN, you relax, breathe and trust that you will make any decision and any outcome work for you. End of story.
I regularly use these principles with my coaching clients and wouldn’t you know it, it works for them, too. I give my clients the coaching homework to “go get more info” and they always come back having more intel, which helps them make a more informed decision with a lot more clarity and confidence. When they can’t get more intel, then I ask them questions that can lead them to making a decision work for them.
It’s a beautiful thing when you have that mindset. It’s as if the Universe is ready to give you solutions, if only you are in the headspace to take notice.
And that is a good place to be.
What do you think? I’d love to hear from you! Do you have any questions? Let me know! You can reach me at amy@amykvaughn.com.
