Decisions are never easy. Life is full of having to make choices. Some are simple: chocolate or vanilla cone. Some are very difficult, I mean change-your-life-magnitude difficult. You can “sleep on it,” ask your mentor, or pray to your god, but whatever that decision is, you must choose. Here I will offer steps to help make steps to life-changing decisions.
Where’s your pen?
Write as you’ve never written before. I am all about lists; maybe it’s me getting older and the memory fading, but I write everything down. (I wish I had invested in Post-It notes!) Do it at least five times on different days and when in different moods. You would be surprised that whether happy or sad, the result will still tell you to make that move, change careers, or not marry him.
Get up
Get walking, then go to bed. These are the two things that help solidify my decisions. Nothing is better than fresh air. Give yourself that week or month and go on a solo walk alone. Go to the park or grocery store, or stroll your local watering hole. Get out by yourself into the fresh air. Nothing clears the head better than nature. Sleep too. Everyone in life is so busy, and no one seems to get enough sleep. Well, sleep is the most crucial thing our body needs. When your brain is on stimulation overload, unsure which choice to make, go to bed. A Hot Toddy before bed relaxes me, then I tell my brain to shut up, and I block out all the chatter in my head.
Who’s it for?
Is it all about you? If it isn’t, it had better be. Regardless of how many people in your life your decisions affect, in the end, those around you will fall into place when you put yourself first. I am confident decisions about children are always the hardest, and I cannot speak from that point of view. But even then, what’s right for you will ultimately be suitable for the other loved ones in your life. Life can be full of regrets: should have, would have, could have. I believe every big jump you take only makes you stronger, wiser, and ultimately happier. It will not seem like it at first, but a rainbow is on the other side.
How bad is it?
Are you afraid to fail? Fearful of what others think? Let me tell you, even the most secure and influential people in the world are so scared of the same things as you on the inside. It’s a matter of perspective. Everyone is anxious, but others know how to turn angst and anxiety into a challenge or a mission. Kids are fearful when they first learn to ride a bike. Imagine the fear of a woman going through childbirth or getting promoted to CEO. Every person has that “oh shit” moment, but they come out the other side.
Ignore your mind
Get out of your head. I’ve said this in previous posts, as we all get caught up in all the minutia in our brains. Every thought becomes exponentially more significant than it is. Do not overthink. And that’s the problem with big decisions; we overthink.
You’re still here
There is always a path, door, or exit available to you. Remember that when deciding to make that next step. Nothing in life is easy, and if you look at all the accomplishments you achieved in the past, remember that in five years, you will look at this leap of faith and think back and say, I made it, and I’m OK. Check out some encouraging life tips here.
Are you ready to make a life change? Read more about Eileen Callahan and her dramatic life change on her Champagne Travels website.
