Stop Light Decisions

The time in between thinking about making the decision and actually making it can be a stomach-churning, head-whirling, sleep-depriving time.

I’ve come to think of decisions like stop lights.

Red decisions are ones that are very important and that have long term consequences – should I marry or move away? They likely require time, research and discernment.

Green decisions are the multiple little decisions we have to make daily – should I use a fork or a spoon to eat this stew? These can be made quickly and with little fanfare.

Yellow decisions are the ones that really seem to stump me. Neither enormously life changing and also not insignificant or inconsequential, these decisions make me feel uncomfortable, queasy, unsure. I go back and forth, talk myself in and of of them and ask everyone and their dog what to do. Can you relate at all?

What I find is that often when I make the decision, I second guess and I glamourize the option I didn’t choose.

Additionally, I think about the energy drain of decision making. The amount of energy that we have in a day is finite and the amount of energy that issues can take from you is infinite – how much energy do you want to let this decision take from you?

It’s time to stand in confidence with decision making. It’s time to know that once we decide, we make that decision the right decision for us. The knowing that we made the decision with good intentions based on the information and emotional capacity that we had at the time.

Saying no to something in your life makes room to say yes to something else. Stepping down gives someone else the opportunity to step up. Letting go can be a wonderful opportunity to grow.

I think I’m sort of talking to myself here, as I often do, but I hope some of this resonates with you the next time you have a red, yellow or green decision to make.

If you are in Winnipeg, I hope you can join me for my farewell show, where there will no doubt be a few tears as I stand by my yellow light decision, proud of what we accomplished and ready to pass the torch to the new champions.

Good luck with your decisions!

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Stephanie Staples, CSP* is the author of When Enlightening Strikes – Creating a Mindset for Uncommon Success, an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, and the recipient of the 2014 Manitoba Woman Entrepreneur Award for Contributions to Community. Stephanie empowers audiences & clients across North America to bring their ‘A’ game to work and to life. Stephanie has a special interest in working with and empowering nurses and healthcare providers. She happily calls Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada home. You can get loads of complimentary resources to help with issues such as work/life balance, wellness, stress management and happiness in general, as well as find out more information about her coaching and speaking services at http://www.YourLifeUnlimited.ca.

* Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), conferred by the National Speakers Association is the speaking profession’s international measure of professional platform proficiency. Less than 10 percent of speakers have earned this credential and are recognized as some of the best in their fields. Stephanie was one of only five professional speakers in Canada (and the only woman) to attain this designation in 2013.

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Stop Light Decisions

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