Making Decisions Part II: – Aligning with Core Values and Passions

In last month’s feature article, making decisions based on intuition and fear was discussed. To review, fear is not the optimal decision making situation unless you are in a life and death situation. Fear promotes scarcity and a contracting within so looking at a situation from different perspectives and being open to other possibilities is almost impossible. When using your intuition as a guide, you open yourself up to receive and embrace the Yes of a deeper wisdom and the abundance of possibilities. The important piece in this is to tune into what your body is telling you and trust in its knowledge. A request was made for you to take some time to be aware of where you were making decisions from-intuition or fear.

What did you learn about yourself in making decisions?

This month we’ll look at decision making from the viewpoint of how in alignment a decision is with your core values and passions.

My client Peter (named changed for privacy) had a dilemma. He was working for a small business that was incongruent with his values. He tried to "fit" in and was miserable. What did he do? In a coaching session, he reconnected with his core values and committed to looking for other companies that would match what was important to him. Eventually, he interviewed and accepted a position in a company that not only was a better match but the owner has provided many opportunities for growth and experience that will prepare Peter for owning his own green development company. Peter made a decision that is in alignment with his values and passions.

Aligning with Core Values

In the journey of life, as spiritual beings having a very human experience, having guideposts, a GPS or a North Star is critical to the degree you live a life of fulfillment and satisfaction. Webster’s definition of values is something “intrinsically valuable or desirable… that which belongs to the essential nature or constitution of a thing.” Your values are innate, you are your values. These are not “shoulds”; values are not morals or someone else’s idea of what’s important. Discovering your 5-6 core values gives you clarity in decision making. Values are intangible. For example, someone may value their home which is tangible. If you go deeper, the essence of having a home may include “security”, “comfort”, “grounded”, “success”, “beauty” or another intangible that a home has for them.

What qualities or values do you hold most important? Make a list of what you value most. One way to do this is to think of 3 people you admire and list the qualities that attract you to them. Go through this discovery process by refining the list to 5-6 core values. Keep in mind that you are all your values and these 5-6 are your strongest filters and guideposts in making decisions.

Aligning with your Passions

What do you want your life to look like? What do you want to be, do or have to create your ideal life? There are only 3 reasons that stop you from living a life aligned with your passions:
· False ideas
· False concepts
· False beliefs

As with the core values, make a list of all the things that you want to either be, do or have in this human experience. Refine that list to your top 5 passions. Passion comes from the heart, not the head.

Let’s go back to my client Peter. Peter made a transition into a higher paying position with mentoring benefits because he looked at the company’s values statement and asked questions that would help him determine if this employment opportunity was aligned with his values. Now, one of Peter’s passions is to create economically green housing for people on a global level. Even though this company was not in green development, the owner was open to facilitating and transitioning into this area. Plus he created opportunities for Peter to gain the necessary ground level experience required to own a green development and construction company. So Peter’s decision to accept this position was not only in alignment with his values but was also one of his top 5 passions. The bottom line is that Peter was living the life of his dreams feeling fulfilled, purposeful and in love with his life.

When you make decisions that come from the heart and the soul free of circumstance and all other influences there is a rightness, a centering and an internal knowing that the universe will conspire to fill your order although it may not look just exactly like you thought.

Discovering your core values and passions are integral parts of the Listening to the Voice of Your Soul process in the Conscious Living Connection Passion, Purpose & Prosperity Coaching Programs. To learn more or schedule a complimentary Get Acquainted Activation conversation contact me at colleen@consciouslivingconnection.com

Next Month: Making Decisions Part III: Life Purpose & Inner Guidance System

Much Joy,

Colleen

Making Decisions- Part I: Fear or Intuition

“To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude…because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solution.”
Deepak Chopra, M. D.

With so many choices and the avalanche of information you are exposed to on a daily basis, it’s no wonder that making even simple decisions can be overwhelming and even paralyzing.

What is the basis for the decisions you make?

Fear: In this seemingly chaotic time, many people are making decisions based on fear. The news constantly talks about the unemployment rate, loss of jobs, the spiraling down Dow and so on. What happens in your body when you base a decision on fear?

First and this is a very general explanation so neuroscientists please give me some allowance on this. Your old brain( amygdala) seeks out safety. That good ole flight ,fight and freeze response. When a decision is made from fear, our response is to flee from something uncomfortable/danger whether real or perceived. Your blood starts pumping and your sympathetic nervous system takes over. Your voice pitch gets higher, your brain seems to freeze and survival is your primary goal. This is not the optimal decision making situation unless you are in a life and death situation. Fear promotes scarcity and a contracting within so looking at situation from different perspectives and being open to other possibilities is almost impossible. In addition to our natural tendency to flee uncomfortable situations, you can learn a fear response if exposed to someone who constantly reacts to change with those fear behaviours. Fears run the gamut from “what will people (or my mom, dad, spouse etc) think of me?”, “what if I make the wrong choice?” “I’ll be embarrassed.” “It won’t be perfect.” “I’ll let people down.” You are unable to listen when in a fear state.

Intuition: “the ability to perceive or know things without conscious reasoning.”
This is the sixth sense, the inner knowing. Lots of right brain activated here. It’s the feeling that something is right or not a fit. Tapping into your intuition takes some practice and an awareness of where in your body that you “sense” how a situation is. One of my favorite shows is NCIS. Gibbs the main character often proceeds with a “gut” feeling on what to do next. Others feel a warming and centeredness in their heart; others have a tingling sensation in their hands of get goose bumps when they listen to their intuition. The important piece in this is to tune into what your body is telling you and trust in its knowledge. In using your intuition as a guide, you open yourself up to receive and embrace the Yes of a deeper wisdom and the abundance of possibilities. The intellect’s role in this is only as consultant to look at ‘what is’ in the present moment. Listen to the sound of Silence.

Coach’s Request: Take some time this month to be aware of what you are making your decisions from- fear or intuition or a combination.

When faced with a decision: take a breath, pause, be in the now, go to heart level and ask yourself “what’s the next logical step?” (Abraham-Hicks)

Inner Listening Exercise (borrowed from Happy for No Reason)

• Find a quiet spot, comfortable spot, and sit with a pen and paper ready.
• At the top of the paper write down a question or issue you’d like guidance about. Phrase the question or issue as clearly as possible.
• Close your eyes and take several deep breaths.
• Ask your inner voice the question you wrote on the paper. It may take a few moments until you feel ready and when you do, open your eyes and start writing whatever comes to you. It doesn’t matter whether it makes sense or not. Keep writing until your hand feels like it won’t move any longer, not reading what you have written as you go.
• Now read over what you’ve written. You may be quite surprised as what wisdom has come out. Even a single word or phrase may be the key to your answer.
  
  
  Next Month: Part II: Making Decisions -Aligning with Core Values and Passions
  
  Part of my signature Listening to the Voice of Your Soul process in the ProPassion, Purpose, & Prosperity Blueprint addresses decision and commitment making. Schedule a complimentary Get Acquainted Activation conversation to start creating what matters most to you. colleen@consciouslivingconnection.com

Much Joy,
Colleen

Colleen Crook, a Life and Leadership coach and certified facilitator of the Passion Test(TM), is the founder and owner of Conscious Living Connection and the creator of the Living Consciously with Passion, Purpose and Prosperity Blueprint. She supports and partners with spiritually conscious professionals, executives and consciouspreneurs™ and groups to create what matters most authentically and with integrity. Colleen has served in the Allied Health Field as an Occupational Therapist for over 30 years both nationally and internationally, was the co-owner of a successful network marketing business and a thriving private therapy consulting practice. Sign up for your fr^^ee Gift Bundle on creating what matters most at www.consciouslivingconnection.com
If you're ready to make a change in your life, schedule a complementary Get Acquainted Activation Session by e-mailing colleen@consciouslivingconnection.com