How to Know When Something Is Right for You

There is not one Golden Path for everyone. If a person or group says “this is the path that will get you the furthest,” be wary. It’s important to choose your teachers and mentors wisely by listening to your own guidance and not just following the newest trend. Answers lie inside you. So, how can we consistently access our own answers and stay mindful of how we can trick ourselves into only hearing what we want to hear?

Here are 5 ideas to consider and practice.

1. Ask your body what she thinks. Talk to your body as if she were a collaborator on the decision and bounce some ideas off of her. She may already have ideas on what to eat and how to exercise, but she probably also has opinions on how to spend money, which event to attend, and what to say to that very important person in your life.

2. Ask yourself: "Would I want this action to become a habit?" We are constantly programming ourselves for the future. Doing something once or twice makes it easier to do 20 times, and can set up "autopilots" and future habits. We can use this to our advantage by making a very conscious choice the first or second time we do something. However if we decide to eat lots of refined sugar in a week, it makes it harder to get back to a healthy diet the week after.

3. Ask yourself: "What decision would I make if no one would ever find out either way?" This can help clear out some of the exterior reasons you may be choosing something and let you see what just you will be getting out of it. Exterior reasons are not a negative thing, but you may also have your own reasons, benefits, and inspiration.

4. Remember, no one thing can seal your fate. No move is permanently right or wrong You will always have another choice to make. Sometimes dramatic thinking can lead to unnecessary pressure and then reaction in fear. So remind yourself that you are simply choosing something you would like to experience; a preference, not something that is inherently good, bad, right, or wrong.

5. Get Quiet. It's the oldest one in the book for a reason. Whenever you can, give yourself an extra minute, hour, or day to make the decision. Say "Can I get back to you about that?" And then don't sit down to write a list of pros and cons, but find a moment in that extra time to be quiet and listen for your guidance. It is usually ready and waiting for a chance to be heard.... and for its advice to be followed!