Thinking and Feeling about Decision Making

When faced with decisions big or small it is useful to take a moment to reflect on how the decision feels.  Generally speaking fear based decisions feel constrictive and lead us to feeling trapped.  There are many other places to make decisions from (i.e. reason, love, pursuit of meaning, etc.) that evoke feelings that range from neutral to inspirational.  Decisions made from the later described place feel expansive and lead to growth.  Fear is not the problem.  Fear is just a feeling, information about feeling unsafe.  It seeks safety in the predictable even if it is consistently unsatisfying.  We make better decisions when we are aware of and honest with ourselves about our feelings.  A simple test is to check in with ourselves in the present by asking “Dose this choices feel constrictive or expansive?”  Choices that feel constrictive maintain the status quo or homeostasis of the system.  Choices that feel expansive lead to dynamic change, healing, and growth.