When you have decisions to make, it’s interesting how sometimes you can be incredibly clear, and have no problem with knowing exactly what to do, and yet at other times, it all seems fraught with difficulties. Why is that, and what can you do about it?
There are all sorts of reasons why it’s sometimes hard to make decisions – fear of ‘getting it wrong’, making a commitment, cutting off all other choices, you name it, there will be a reason. But decisions do have to be made often, and although there‘s no doubt that discovering why you are loath to make a decision can sometimes help you to move forward, I’ve found in my work that even knowing the reasons doesn’t necessarily help you actually make a decision!
By exploring in your imagination the different options open to you, you are moving away from the ‘lists of pros and cons’ so often recommended, and opening up to your inner wisdom. By listening to yourself in this way, you get a taste of what might occur for you on the different paths you might take. Images may pop up, that in reflection afterwards, become obvious as to their meaning in your daily life. It’s these things that aid in the decision-making. For instance, a client of mine was working with the issue of whether to leave her job or not. She had previously flirted with the idea of leaving and becoming a full-time Mum again; doing another kind of work completely; or staying with the same company but applying for other jobs. By taking a trip down each of these paths in her imagination it became very clear to her what she not only wanted to do, but needed to do for her sanity! (For a meditation on this topic, please see RT Monthly Momentum Series).
Another way that is incredibly simple, but very powerful, is to toss a coin. Yes, I know it may sound crazy but of course it isn’t how it might appear. I’ve employed this myself on many an occasion, and it works when you set yourself up to notice the energy associated with the result you get. This means really paying attention to how you feel in your guts, your heart, your whole body. Notice if you have any bodily reaction at all – and if you can’t specify that, then notice how your energy feels in response to the heads or the tails. If your energy is low around that result, then pay attention! You are being told something. If it’s high then you can continue in the knowledge that this is the right decision being made.
A note on this kind of thing – it’s not to be treated lightly, ie one moment throwing the coins, and the next hour doing it again to see if it’s the same or not. You can do this, of course, but I recommend it only if you bring to it a proper sense of reverence. Tossing coins has become somewhat disrespected in our culture, and honouring it as a method of checking where you are at energetically is very important. So before you toss, make sure you are silent, still, know very clearly what your question is, and be willing to pay attention and act on the answer.
Jane Duncan Rogers
© July 2009
I have used the principles I write about here in RichThinkers to bring about all kinds of things in my life, including running a successful counselling practice and health clinic business. Coming from a place of inspiration has enabled me to bring meaning and magic into all that I do, and my background in psychotherapy and counselling, combined with practical business skills, means I am uniquely positioned to help you in both the inner and the outer levels of success. (more…)
Decision Making: Coming to a crossroads
When you have decisions to make, it’s interesting how sometimes you can be incredibly clear, and have no problem with knowing exactly what to do, and yet at other times, it all seems fraught with difficulties. Why is that, and what can you do about it?
There are all sorts of reasons why it’s sometimes hard to make decisions – fear of ‘getting it wrong’, making a commitment, cutting off all other choices, you name it, there will be a reason. But decisions do have to be made often, and although there‘s no doubt that discovering why you are loath to make a decision can sometimes help you to move forward, I’ve found in my work that even knowing the reasons doesn’t necessarily help you actually make a decision!
By exploring in your imagination the different options open to you, you are moving away from the ‘lists of pros and cons’ so often recommended, and opening up to your inner wisdom. By listening to yourself in this way, you get a taste of what might occur for you on the different paths you might take. Images may pop up, that in reflection afterwards, become obvious as to their meaning in your daily life. It’s these things that aid in the decision-making. For instance, a client of mine was working with the issue of whether to leave her job or not. She had previously flirted with the idea of leaving and becoming a full-time Mum again; doing another kind of work completely; or staying with the same company but applying for other jobs. By taking a trip down each of these paths in her imagination it became very clear to her what she not only wanted to do, but needed to do for her sanity! (For a meditation on this topic, please see RT Monthly Momentum Series).
Another way that is incredibly simple, but very powerful, is to toss a coin. Yes, I know it may sound crazy but of course it isn’t how it might appear. I’ve employed this myself on many an occasion, and it works when you set yourself up to notice the energy associated with the result you get. This means really paying attention to how you feel in your guts, your heart, your whole body. Notice if you have any bodily reaction at all – and if you can’t specify that, then notice how your energy feels in response to the heads or the tails. If your energy is low around that result, then pay attention! You are being told something. If it’s high then you can continue in the knowledge that this is the right decision being made.
A note on this kind of thing – it’s not to be treated lightly, ie one moment throwing the coins, and the next hour doing it again to see if it’s the same or not. You can do this, of course, but I recommend it only if you bring to it a proper sense of reverence. Tossing coins has become somewhat disrespected in our culture, and honouring it as a method of checking where you are at energetically is very important. So before you toss, make sure you are silent, still, know very clearly what your question is, and be willing to pay attention and act on the answer.
Jane Duncan Rogers
© July 2009