Facing a Difficult Decision? – ask this question

When faced with making a difficult decision, our mind can go into overdrive. It can keep us up at night, bring us to a procrastination impasse, and often creates even more confusion about what the “right” choice is.

As Albert Einstein observed: “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it”.

This means that we have to get out of our analytical mind and come from a different perspective. Sometimes imagining being an eagle, or a helicopter, rising high above the sky and looking down on what the issue is, can bring different points of view. It opens up new information and allows us to see what is connected. Its still using our brain though!

What if we can tap into our intuition, or a different level of consciousness, and connect to a different kind of knowing instead. Asking the right question can help us go beyond our thinking mind.

In my experience, when we face a difficult decision, there are one of two things going on.  Either its fear coming up … or its our inner wisdom trying to get our attention.

The first step is to consider what I might be afraid of…. What are the facts of the situation? Are their any old beliefs coming up that I might not be good enough, or that I might fail? As I think about this, is there a feeling of contraction or withdrawal… or not? Could there be an unpleasant experience from my past associated with this? Examining for previous wounds isn’t easy, but its helpful in getting clear.

Fear comes from our mind and our thoughts.  It comes from our ego and its job is to keep us safe.  Its very human!  And boy does it get in the way when we are facing change.

The next step is to explore our inner intuitive wisdom. What’s going on in our heart and soul.

This is where the horse comes in. 

Imagine you are going through life with your true authentic self, on a horse. It’s a magical horse that reflects all of who you are, and it will take you to where your heart and soul want to be.

When you come across a difficult decision, or are procrastinating about making the right choice, ask yourself this question – Which way is my horse heading?

And then … Am I trying to turn my horse around? What would happen if I follow my horse?

Then sit quietly. The answer comes from your inner being, rather than your head. Listen for the answer to reveal itself. It may show itself as a feeling in your body or an image.

I’ve asked this question at important times in my life. My horse wanted to be free to run in a controlling relationship. It wanted to graze at the side of a luscious path and nourish itself when I was in coach training. It needed to move and feel good in its body and take time out with yoga. It opened its heart, fell in love and found a companion. It was drawn to reach out to others and share its wisdom on WordPress.

A few days ago I realized that my horse isn’t going along a path I know, and it isn’t sure about where it is heading either… So I paused and started re-writing this post.

What came up was “It doesn’t care!” It really doesn’t matter where it is heading. It’s happy to be free to explore. It isn’t afraid. Its untethered and knows that there is more than enough to enjoy life as it is. It knows that there are new adventures around the next bend.

I’m smiling at the realization. “Follow your horse and you follow your inner wisdom.” Until you find there is nothing to follow after all.

Namaste