As a creative soul I love trying new things and thinking outside the box, but one thing is for sure, decisions are not my forte. In fact they make me tremble with anxiety for the most part, especially those large, potentially life changing decisions that as adults we often have to make.
A few years ago I was looking to get out of the job I was in and into a job that would allow me to actually utilize my Masters degree in Psychology. The idea of helping young children find a forever home sounded wonderful and I was up for the challenge. Unfortunately the pay that comes along with that challenge was not even in the ball park of what I needed to survive. I was offered the position along with the measly salary that came with it. I had a decision to make. I could either keep the job I didn’t like with potential for a possible raise, or take a more challenging job for less money.
And so it began…
I made ample lists of pros vs cons, looked at my budget until my eyes crossed, and tried to make sense of my predicament. I agonized over it for about a week, hoping that someone, anyone would give me the right answer as to what I should do. My partner (as lovely and kind as she is) told me she would support me in whatever decision I made. That was not the answer I was looking for, albeit sweet and very supportive.
I wanted someone to make the tough choice for me, but I knew it wasn’t going to happen.
I didn’t have much time left when I finally made a decision. I was not going to take the job that I thought I wanted/needed, and instead stay in my current position while negotiating an additional $4,000 a year. Even though it seemed like the right choice, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would regret it later. Looking back now I know I made the right decision.
So why did I doubt myself?
It comes down to trust. Sometimes I don’t trust myself to make the right decisions and I have a fear of doing something I will regret. I don’t want to look back and say, I should have taken path B instead of A or vice versa and feel terrible about it later.
I realize there aren’t necessarily right or wrong decisions in life as much as there are two (or more) paths that lead in one direction or another. Each way may lead down a different road that will inevitably converge later down the line and the best thing you can do is go with your gut.
Trust your intuition, no matter what.
Whether you find yourself making a decision about finances, business, or in how you accomplish your dreams, the most important thing to do is to trust your intuition as it is your internal compass.
If you trust your intuition, you can never go wrong.
********************
I want to hear from you. Do you always listen to your intuition? Can you tell the difference between your intuitive voice, and the voice of fear?