Eliminating Overwhelm Part XV: How to Trust Yourself in Making Decisions

This post was written by CoachJulieRN on July 23, 2009
Posted Under: Increase Productivity,Stress Management

There are times in life where you find yourself contemplating a decision. You think and worry, and the more think, the more you worry.

choice5 You can’t decide what to do. What’s the right choice? You can’t stop thinking about it. You have difficulty sleeping. The thoughts interfere with your ability to function. And the more you ruminate about it, the less clear the decision becomes.

It feels bad to be in this space. Other people might give you their opinion. Sometimes, this is helpful. Sometimes, it’s not. Just because that’s what they would do, doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you. (And really, who knows what they might choose if faced with your predicament.)

Whenever you face any decision and you’re thinking about it, analyzing it, comparing it, writing down the pros and cons, you are in a state of ‘not knowing.’ You are thinking. Sometimes you just need to sit with the questions and not try to force an outcome from your intellect. Trust that the answer will emerge when you are prepared to hear to it and when the universe is prepared to give it.

~ The Journey Called YOU: A Roadmap to Self-Discovery and Acceptance

It’s wonderful to seek additional information and to gain some clarity over your choices. This is appropriate. It’s okay to get other people’s opinions. Think of this as the time for information-gathering.

The fact is that you do not have enough information to make a good decision. Or perhaps you are simply not ready to make a choice. Either way, don’t judge yourself or this place. Don’t’ push. Don’t rush. Wait.

Often we feel the need to have the answer right NOW. But the answer will come when you are ready for it. When you rush into something, you often question and doubt your choice. And you’re more likely to make mistakes.

When the obsessive thoughts overwhelm you, acknowledge them and honor them by writing them down. Keep a journal and write down your ideas and the possibilities – the pros and cons. But trust that when you are ready the answer will come because it will.

By doing so, you no longer need these thoughts to keep you up at night. Your mind is trying to come up with the perfect answer. It wants to decide. But sometimes decisions take time – we need time to for our ideas to incubate or perhaps we don’t have enough understanding or data to make an informed decision.

You no longer need to permit the thoughts to overwhelm you. You can choose to simply allow your thoughts and be present in this space of unknowing. You don’t yet know how to proceed…

But you will.

You can stop worrying and stop obsessing. Trust that when the answer reveals itself, you will feel in your gut and know that this is the right path for you.

Learn to trust yourself and your ability to make good decisions in your own time.
Let go of the obsessive thoughts that insist that you ‘should’ have the answer already as well as the thoughts that judge you harshly for your uncertainty or your need to wait.

Then you can sleep in peace. If you trust and have faith, then you’ll be able to be present in the moment and go about the business of life until the answer comes.