How do I know what's right for me?

This question has so many possible tangents to explore.  It’s a question that keeps people stuck where they are because they don’t know what they want.  They don’t know how to recognise what’s right for them.  Or they’re so focused on what could go wrong – ‘what if I make the wrong decision?’ that they can’t comprehend the notion of tuning in to the feeling of what’s ‘right’.  What if I make the wrong decision was the focus of the last blog – if you need to review that first, head over HERE and check it out.  This week, let’s talk about knowing what’s right for you.

The ‘knowing’ that we’re talking about here is self-awareness.  It’s not an intellectual decision of right or wrong – which is the thing I believe trips people up.  When making a decision based on what’s ‘right’ for me, it’s not about making the ‘right’ answer.  That is a completely different thing.  If you’re focusing on making the right decision, or rather not making the wrong decision, you’re probably looking outside of yourself for the criteria of what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’.  Knowing what’s right for you is an inner feeling.  It’s that feeling you get in your gut when you know something to be true.  When you feel like you’re being yourself, relaxed, connected to the people and places around you, and you feel good.  That’s the ‘knowing’ I’m talking about.

When life gets busy it’s easy to slip into a completely intellectual zone of organising, scheduling, and analysing, and you forget about being aware of what’s happening in your body.  You stop listening to your body and its messages about being tired, hungry, or needing to move, and you lose touch with the gut feelings that give you the messages about what’s right for you.

Learning to know what’s right for you starts with listening to yourself.  You can do this by sitting quietly – meditating or journaling or daydreaming over a cuppa.  It’s also great to get outside and go for a walk so your intellectual brain can switch off.  When you switch off the analytical thoughts you give yourself the space to tune in to your gut feelings.  Ask yourself the question you’ve been pondering (the thing you’re wanting to know if it’s right for you) and allow options to filter through without judgement or analysis.  Don’t limit yourself.  Listen to what you feel excited about, notice what motivates you and inspires you to take action.  These are the things that are ‘right for you’.  Then bring in the intellectual brain to figure out how.

What I’ve described here is a strategy that’s worked for me several times – you’re welcome to try it on and see if it works for you.  You might have your own way of knowing what’s right for you – and that’s great!  After all, it’s you that has to know!  😊

Have a great week!
Gillian