Decision-Making, Play, and an Orphan Portrayed by Hayley Mills

Some thoughts for landing on a decision when you find yourself asking: “What on earth should I do with myself?”

Now, if that isn’t a question for the ages. It’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately, not having the daily distractions of the full-time role I’d been in for years.

Sometimes it feels like fun, an interrogation full of playful possibility. Sometimes it feels like pressure, as if a single misstep will doom you to a lifetime of misery. Fortunately, it’s mostly the former, and that’s where I prefer to play. The latter is a limiting belief that I know simply isn’t true, but when the feeling arises, it’s a helpful sign that I might not be on the right track.

In my amazing coaching program this week,* we discussed how to support a client stuck between deciding to proceed with what they truly want to do, vs. what they are expected to do – those expectations set by themselves in a past phase in life, by others, by society, or simply by a fear of deviating from the well-trodden path they’ve been on.  

How do you know when a decision is right? When I feel that sense of playful possibility, I think I’m on the right track. When I’m feeling considerable angst about the decision, it’s my cue that I might be stepping out on the wrong path, or continuing on one it's time to abandon.

I subscribe to daily texts from mindfulness and positive psychology teacher Cory Muscara.** He doesn’t know me, but he always seems to send me the right message at the right time, so thanks Cory! Today’s text:

"If you have to talk yourself into being excited about doing something there’s a very good chance it’s not coming from a place of inner alignment." - Cory Muscara

Often accused of being a bit of a Pollyanna,*** I’ve developed lots of muscles for talking myself into being excited about things.

How about instead of asking, “Where’s the silver lining in this?” (Not a bad thing to do when bereft of alternatives.)

You ask: “Does this path give me a sense of profound peace? Does it spark a fire in my belly?” 

And if it’s a no, you can feel confident that it’s a NO.

Are you struggling with decision-making? Reach out, I’d love to chat! Let’s find the playful possibility, and avoid the misery.

*I truly can’t say enough good things about the program, its facilitators, the design, the content, the platform, and above all, the cohort I’m learning alongside. They’re starting another cohort in the fall – check it out!

**Here’s how to sign up for Cory’s texts. Great for curious or continued students of mindfulness. Text the word "LinkedIn" to 1-631-305-2874

***This is Pollyanna. Not so bad, but not a state you want to be in all the time. Certainly not someone you want to be around all the time, either.