Go with your Gut? 5 Ways to Make Good Decisions
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I don’t know about you, but I am what my husband loves to refer to as an “activator”. You know… those people that once a great idea strikes it’s time to get moving. I’ve always heard… go with your gut!
When I had a feeling in my gut… I was definitely go, go, go! Act, then analyze and review later. Instead of “ready, aim, fire” (which is advised)… for me, it’s “fire, fire, fire”.
It drives my husband of 17 years, bonkers, though, he’s too kind to say it. Mostly he just lets me go after whatever it is I want without saying anything… and knows that if I need help, I’ll ask… eventually.
He is my biggest supporter and loves my go with your gut attitude, but provides a good “reality check” when I need it.
Some times, he’ll nicely suggest slowing down and doing some research, write out pros and cons, and encourages me to actually “think” about what I’m thinking about.
But seriously… who has time for that? This is a great idea! Let’s do this!
The downfall with “activators” is their sometimes, eh-hem, lack of follow-through. Finishing is the struggle. The struggle is real.
I am very aware of this weakness in my life.
These would be the times that I was running after something new, big, and exciting, then slowing down enough to see if it’s “too hard” or taking “too much time”. That is when I would start the pros vs cons process.
My method had always been so backward.
These are things I should have looked at AHEAD of time.
How much time, money and effort will this new thing or endeavor take? These are good things to know before starting something new.
At the beginning of 2019, the great idea of starting up a blog struck me.
I wanted to start right away… but didn’t. Wait, what?
Something happened that I wasn’t used to… a pause.
I usually don’t have a care in the world about putting myself out there, but for some reason, the thoughts of:
“What would people think? Does anyone really want to hear about my life and what I think? Do I really have anything interesting to say? Be honest, do I really have time to take on something like that? I seriously have so much going on, can I really take on another thing?” and on and on.
If you struggle with the opinion of others, read my post here!
My “go with your gut” lifestyle froze.
I caved to my own insecurities.
So now what? I knew I still wanted to do something…
After some more time and research, I decided to start a private Facebook group where I could test out the waters. It felt safer to me. Even during the prep of this new group, though, I was still incredibly nervous.
The same questions, doubts, and fears kept popping in my head.
“Will anyone really care? Will my group members consist of my husband and my mom? Who do I think I am? Am I telling everyone that my life and thoughts are so interesting that they should pay attention to them?”
Putting myself out there asking people to join a group where I would post things, thoughts, suggestions, about my life and what I’ve learned. Isn’t that weird?
I did my research, I prepared, and hit. that. button.
We are LIVE.
I clicked over 200 names to invite to the group. I went into my husband’s Facebook and invited people I didn’t know from his network to join.
It was quiet at first, then the responses started rolling in.
No joke, I was literally sweating. My hands are getting clammy, right now, just typing this part out. I was so nervous.
Today, the group has been up and running for almost a year and it has been a blast. It has grown to several hundred people and for that, I am extremely grateful.
Join our awesome community here!!
However, as 2019 went on, the persistent feeling of stepping out into the blogging world keeps tugging at me.
And right along with those beautiful butterflies in my belly, came those nasty fears and doubts.
Stop the Noise!
Finally, I decided to stop being a victim of the battle in my mind and I combated each negative thought with positive self-talk.
“I have things to share with the world, there are people that need to hear what I have to say, I believe the knowledge I’ve gained through study and experience can really help people. I am a winner. I’m awesome. And doggone it, people like me.” (that one is for you ’91 SNL fans ;))
Over and over and over. Positive confession. Speaking what I want.
I’m so grateful for the years I spent reading positive self-help books to teach me how to get myself through seasons of self-doubt and unbelief.
By far the best, life-changing, books I’ve ever read to help me in this area:
I took the last year to really pray about not only starting this but giving me the strength and fortitude to actually follow through.
As the year went on, the feeling in my gut grew. I knew I had to go with my gut.
Then the day came, I opened up my beautiful, crispy, new 2020 planner and decided… it’s time.
And, friend, here I am.
So HOW?? You ask?
Well, you could just go for it like I used to. No planning or preparing, just do it and hope for the best.
OR… you can take 5 simple steps to properly plan and prepare.
Here are the 5 steps I take when wanting to make a good, quality decision:
- SET THE GOAL
- WHAT is it exactly you want to accomplish?
- WHY do you want to accomplish it?
- WHEN do you want it started or completed by?
- DO QUALITY RESEARCH
- WHO are you listening to?
- Do they have the results you want in the area you are researching?
- Have they been successful?
- Are they qualified to teach you?
- WHO are you listening to?
IMPORTANT: As much as your friends, family, mom, and dad love you and want to keep you safe… you MUST be able to differentiate between their love and their expertise in a certain field.
REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES
One example is my dad, he was a traditional business owner and a successful one at that. Not only did he run one successful business for over 30 years, but he started another business and ran that one successfully for another 30+ years.
To me, he is a reliable and credible source when it comes to running successful businesses.
However, to start-up and launch a blog would be a completely different story. He would not be someone I would go to for that.
Why? Because he had never launched or ran a successful blog before.
Yes, he could properly guide me on the behind the scenes business and money basics, but not on the ins and outs of daily operations of a blog, how to grow it big, and make it successful.
He would not be a credible or reliable source for me.
Another example, my husband is a big workout guy. Played college-level football and basketball. Loves sports and loves working out. He would be a total gym rat if he had the time. Working out, exercising, and competing physically gives him so much life.
So when I was thinking about competing in a Triathlon, he was not the first person I went to ask for advice.
Why? Because he had never competed or succeeded in a Triathlon before.
He does not know the proper training for something like that. Yes, he could give me ideas of general workouts, but he would not know how to build it up to be successful on race day.
He would not be a credible or reliable source for me.
RULE OF THUMB: Before you take someone’s advice, be sure to first check their results in that area.
Be a “fruit inspector”. Do you want the amount and quality of the fruit on the tree in the area you’re looking to gain knowledge in?
- Relationship advice? Be sure to talk to someone who has a growing and thriving relationship.
- Financial advice? Talk to someone who is excelling financially and has money in the bank.
- Parenting advice? Sit and talk with someone whose kids you admire.
- Business advice? Yes, go to someone who has already built a successful business like the one you’re looking to start.
- Health advice? Head straight to someone who lives a healthy lifestyle, who is rarely sick or complaining about how they are feeling.
- Beauty advice? Talk to someone who looks the way you want to look. Makeup looks, skin condition, hairstyle, clothing style, etc.
These people will give you GOOD ADVICE!
Check out my post here for more about who to listen to and who to definitely NOT listen to!
- 3.WEIGH OUT ALL OPTIONS & CONSEQUENCES
- Talking to your reliable and credible sources will help you out greatly in this area
- Ask questions, whether you feel the questions are silly or not. Ask!
- 4. DO IT!
- Yup – it’s time!
- You’ve done your proper credible research
- Everything looks good
- Pull the trigger, hit the button, make the call, whatever it is… just do it!
- 5. EVALUATE & ANALYZE
- After you’ve launched, continue to evaluate and analyze
- How are things going?
- What is working well and what needs to be adjusted?
- Doing these check-ins will help you out tremendously
- Find a mentor who is willing to guide you through this process
BE SURE TO GET YOUR FREE “5 STEPS TO MAKING GOOD DECISIONS” GUIDE
FRIEND… it’s time to go with your gut!
Ask yourself, what is it that:
- is tugging at you?
- you are trying to avoid?
- you are afraid of?
- just won’t go away, no matter how much you try to ignore it?
What are the critics in your head saying?
And more importantly… what are YOU saying back to them?
Don’t push away that feeling in your gut because of the doubts and fears in your head.
Are you allowing the fears in your life to hold you back on what you want, and more importantly, should do?
Do you believe you have a higher calling? Something that only YOU can do?
I do.
I believe that I have been put on this earth at this specific time for a very specific purpose, only one that I, Mo, can accomplish. Not my husband or my kids or my parents… only. me.
Umm, can we say, terrifying and exciting all at the same time??
I believe that the very same thing is true for YOU too!
YOU are here at this very specific time in history, in the very location you are in, for a very specific purpose and reason.
My beautiful friend, I 100% believe that you have been born with a specific purpose that only YOU can do and accomplish!
I cannot do it for you. No one else on this earth can do it for you. Only YOU.
Let me repeat… terrifying and exciting all at the same time, right?
Don’t deny the world the greatness you have inside of you… we need you!
I’m grateful I took the time to research, study, pray, seek, and find my answer.
I’m grateful I didn’t ignore that feeling in my gut and that tugging in my heart because of the battle that was raging in my head.
Here I sit… typing this post, the fears and doubts are still there, but so is the confidence that I’m doing this for a reason bigger than what I’m aware of right now.
And that, my friend, is something I can hang onto.
Go with your gut… let’s do this!
So tell me, friend, what was your main takeaway from this? What’s the first thing you will apply to your life? I would LOVE to hear!
xoxo,
Mo
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