How to Make a Good Decision
How Do You Make a Good Decision?
I just spent the afternoon at the funeral of a dear friend who positively impacted the lives of countless individuals, including mine.
He delivered over 6000 babies into the world and dedicated his professional life to the optimal health and wellness of women. Although schooled in Western medicine he opened up to the benefits of alternative medicine and ultimately used it ALL for the sake of helping others, as he personally witnessed with his patients, the powerful connection between optimal wellness and the spirit, mind, emotions and body connection.
Knowing a little about his work in the world will put the following quote which was on the pamphlet that was handed out in his honor at the celebration of his life into context:
“What is death but birth from a second placenta to which life has been attached.”
Now that is a statement that will cause you to pause and think for a moment eh?
Not the only statement that I encountered during my friend’s life celebration that created a pause in my thoughts.
During the words of remembrance, someone shared thatmy friend never made decisions out of haste, fear or anger.
Hmmmm, now that’s worth pushing the pause button for a moment. Let’s take a closer look.
How many times have you made a decision out of fear?
Fear that you may not be liked if you don’t make a specific decision? Followed? Promoted? That you won’t get what you think you need in order to feel that you are enough?
When was the last time you made a decision that compromised the person you are committed to being? The decision was made to avoid a negative response from another person. Lying and twisting the truth are two behaviors that emerge in this thought space. You allowed fear to twist your moral compass.
Good decisions are made when we feel the fear and go for the truth in spite of the potential, uncomfortable consequences. Perhaps the truth is believing you have the God given strength to put into motion a dream placed upon your heart.
Courage by the way, can only exist in the presence of fear.
Fear of failure causes many unclaimed successes in life due to small, safe decisions.
Courage comes from the choice to give more authority to the spirit within you than to the flesh and it’s perceptions of threats outside of you. Courage is the decision to give more authority to the strength of God within you than to the reactions of others around you.
I remember when I was going through the experience of advanced cancer at 38 years old, my life expectancy was not very long. I was so scared I would leave my 3 young children without a mom. I felt fear every day and went for trusting God for healing and restoration in spite of the fear. 14 years later I still experience moments of fear right along side my decision to choose life, gratitude for every day, trust in God and healthy behaviors.
When was the last time you made a courageous decision and the odds were stacked against you?
I remember talking with my friend about the courage it took to step into a different niche not knowing the ramifications of that decision. The ramification? Lives positively impacted as a result of his choice to feel the fear and go for it anyway.
In addition to not making a decision out of fear, it was said that my friend would never make a decision out of haste or anger.
Haste: excessive speed or urgency of action. He would not make a decision in a hurry. Do you?
Anger:My friend would not make a decision if a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure or hostility was present.
How many times have you made a decision that is fueled by frustration and later regretted it?
How many times have you been under pressure to get something completed and in the heat of the rush you made a decision you later wished you hadn’t?
Let’s learn from the witness of a man who was known in his life to practice impulse control around fear, haste and anger when it came to making decisions. Many of the decisions he did make professionally ended up packing a church at the end of his journey on earth with hundreds of lives who where positively impacted by his choice to pause, reflect and then respond.
Action Step:
This week have high noticing around your decision making behaviors:
- When do you make decisions that result in peace and confidence?
- Notice when you make snap decisions.
- Journal the ramifications of making a decision after a pause and time of reflection.
How do you make a good decision? When your negative emotions do not fuel your choice points:
- Replace fear with love (for God, self and others).
- Replace haste with deep breathing, pause and prayer.
- Replace Anger (fueled by fear of a potential threat to your wellbeing) with curiosity: what am I afraid of? What do I want to remember in order to feel confident in my ability to make good decisions? Do I want more input, counsel and guidance from a mentor, someone who has made a similar decision that I trust?
August 2019 New Release: Stop Letting the World Be The Boss of You!
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Join Us this WED. August 21st
Complimentary Event Hosted By the Center for Relationship Education
Aug 21st: RSVP: 303-793-3202
COLORADO EVENT FOR WOMEN: Limited Seating
Join us!
Let’s get together.
“Get Fed” workshop series, Part 1: “You Be the Judge”
We, often unknowingly, look to our own individual assumptions to make decisions.
Judgments based on assumptive opinions are dangerous.
Participants will learn about the assumptive realities in our workplaces, homes, and communities and discover new skills for combating them.
We’re going to feed you physically, personally, professionally, and emotionally with life changing skills you’re sure to enjoy.
WHERE: The Center for Relationship Education – 8101 E. Belleview Ave. Suite G, Denver, CO 80237
WHEN: Wednesday, August 21st from 8:30 – 10:30 am
WHO: This is a ladies-only event. Come solo or bring a friend.
Breakfast and refreshments will be provided.
RSVP to Sarah Wells at sarah.wells@lpl.com or at 303.793.3202. Space is limited, so contact us today to secure your spot.
Personal and Professional Support Resources:
- What is Life Coaching?
- Faith Based Coaching:Edge God In Podcast: How to Tame the Tongue
- Health Tip from My Journey: A little technique I would implement before walking into daily radiation for 6 weeks: When you have a negative emotion start to override your interior world, pause, breathe deeply and tap on your Thymus: located two inches below the U-shaped dip at the base of your neck as you say for 1 minute: I have faith and confidence in God, my future is secure, I am secure…God is with me. Thank you God for my healing.
Enjoy your gift of life,
Another name for the Holy Spirit is Couselor and Advocate.
Have a decision to make?
Seek counsel from the One who is ALL KNOWING and who has your back.
OUTSHINE THE DARKNESS
