Making Conscious Choices

Life is full of decisions for our work, for our families, for our finances, for our relationships…and we can sometimes question whether we made the right decision. Making our choices consciously is critical to having the life we want. We need to be intentional and find a deep resonance in our choices to avoid a life of regret.
 
A recent conversation with a client involved a career decision that would have a significant impact on his family and lifestyle. It seemed that he had doubts about his choice even though he had done a thorough analysis of the options, consulted with friends and family, conducted due diligence of the work environment and management style and yet he still was second guessing himself. He desperately wanted to have greater comfort with his decision.
 
There were many possible reasons for second guessing such as fearing a better alternative, overthinking our decisions, comparing ourselves to others, and belief of there being a perfect choice. It's natural to second guess, however, by weighing the underlying factors, being self-aware, and managing our saboteurs, we can feel greater confidence in our choices.
 
So I decided to explore some ways to help make a conscious choice and build confidence in our decisions. So here goes:
 
First, base your choice on your values. What is most important to you and how does your decision align with those values? Give yourself time for self-reflection. With a clearer understanding you’ll be able to move forward with more certainty.
 
Second, have realistic expectations. Not every decision has a perfect outcome. You can strengthen your resolve to persevere through difficulties and remain committed to your choice. What’s working and what’s not? Quiet your saboteur(s). Ask what’s the opportunity here? And you’ll develop more resiliency.
 
Third, reflect on past successes and practice self-affirmation. When have you made decisions that led to positive outcomes or personal growth? Use these experiences to remind yourself of your abilities and strengths. Replace self-doubt with empowering thoughts.
 
Fourth, review and revise your choices as needed. Recognize that your choices are not set in stone, and that you can change them if they no longer serve you or your values. Be open to reassessing your decision.
 
And Fifth, practice mindfulness. Focus on the here and now rather than worrying about the future. How much time have we all wasted on worrying about what might happen? Chances are most of those worries were unwarranted.
 
Decision-making is a crucial part of our lives, and making conscious choices are essential to living a fulfilled life. Owning your choices makes you accountable for your actions and the potential outcomes. Try applying some of these steps along with weighing the costs and benefits and let me know.