Article in Success for Women Magazine, February 12th, 2010
How do you know when you’ve made a great decision? Do you know immediately, in the moment of decision, or do you know in time, when you see the results? One decision has the power to transform everything. So what would it be worth to consistently make conscious decisions with clarity, certainty and confidence, knowing that no matter the outcome, you’ve made the most powerful choice?
The quality of your life is a reflection of the quality of your decisions. Are you fully aware of the decisions you are making from moment to moment? It’s easy to make decisions on “autopilot,” choosing today the same as yesterday, out of habit or repetition, or based on what other people are saying or doing. If you drink coffee every morning, 364 days in a row, it’s extremely likely that you’ll choose a cup of coffee on the 365th day—even when you have infinite choice! (You could choose water, or tea, or juice, or nothing at all.) Small decisions like this add up over time and create your destiny. That’s why it’s so important to stay alert each time you make a decision—so you can choose wisely and purposefully.
Whenever I find myself faced with a decision, I ask myself three questions that guide me in making the highest choice for my life. You can apply these questions for all decisions, even the little ones.
The most powerful decisions are those you make when you are fully aware and choosing in alignment with your purpose and values. Not just for the biggest and most important decisions, but for all the choices you make in life. Here are the three questions I ask myself to guide me in choosing wisely:
1) Is it essential? By “essential,” I don’t mean “necessary” or “required.” I mean, is it of my essence? Is it in alignment with who I really am and what’s most important to me?
2) Will it elevate and uplift my life? By that I mean, does it empower and inspire me? Do I feel energized by it? Each decision you make will either advance you toward your ultimate vision or hold you back. When faced with a choice, consciously follow the path that will make you stronger, wiser, healthier and happier.
3) Having made the decision, how do I feel? Imagine yourself in the future looking back on now, having realized the successful outcome of your decision. Notice what you see, hear and feel. Try on all the possible scenarios by visualizing the result of your decision in your mind before you make the choice. If hindsight is 20/20, give yourself this gift in advance.
Asking these three questions will inspire meaningful decisions. Usually, people make decisions emotionally and then justify them logically. This process brings awareness to both the emotional and logical reasons so that you discover and pursue the greatest options in support of your ultimate vision.
Wholeheartedly commit to your decision. The Latin root of the word decision means “to cut off.” So a decision is the choice to cut off other possibilities and clearly focus your energy in one direction while remaining open to the infinite possibilities around you. Asking those three questions provides the clarity, certainty and confidence to make wise decisions based on who you are and what’s most important to you.
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