SGM May 2016 Weekly Message Two: “Five Fun Tricks to Make Great Decisions!”
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Welcome back to the May 2016 Edition of Spiritual Growth Monthly. I’m Kevin Schoeninger. It’s great to have you with us here at SGM!
In this week’s message, you’ll learn five fun tricks you can use to make great decisions!
Now, we’ve all made decisions we’re happy with and proud of—and others, that, well, not so much. Some decisions lead us to better health, deepen our loving relationships, build our finances, and grow our purposeful contribution to life on this planet. Others reflect self-sabotaging tendencies and take us farther away from all the above. These decisions reflect fears of failure, fears of success, and resistance to what we know is best.
Sometimes we make decisions that support hanging onto the past or staying in our comfort zones when life is clearly calling us to heal, let go, and move forward. Fortunately, life is not about being perfect. If anything, it’s about learning and growing in consciousness. It’s about becoming better and better at discerning what is “on track” and “off track” with our spiritual purpose and practice. In a nutshell, you could say that life is about learning to make better and better decisions, moment by moment.
Today, we’re going to explore five unusual tips that help us avoid the pitfalls that lead to poor decisions and connect with the wisdom that leads to great ones.
Before we get to these five tips, I’d like you to take a moment to review a couple decisions you made in the past, so you see some of your tendencies. So, if you would, take a moment to think back to one of the best decisions you’ve made—a decision that has led to a good result in your life. . .
Remember what was happening around the time you made this decision and why it was important. Think about different options you were considering. If possible, remember the moment you made your choice. Recall how you felt at that moment. . . Were you nervous? Doubtful? Excited?
Now, move forward in time and recall the consequences of that decision. What did it lead you to do? What were the results of that? Where has that led you to today? . . .
As you think back on that decision today, were there any defining qualities of that decision that stand out? Did it come from a certain way of thinking? Was it accompanied by a certain feeling? Did it lead you to take a specific kind of action which led to a specific kind of result?
Now, remember a time when you made a poor decision—one that led to results you aren’t proud of or that led to some degree of suffering for you and/or others. . . See if you can do this objectively, without judgment, with a curious attention, simply seeking to understand yourself better. . .
Remember what was happening at that time in your life and the options that you faced. . .
If possible, recall the moment you made your choice. . . How did you feel when you made that decision? Did it feel like something you “should” or “had to” do? Did it feel exciting? Were you ambivalent? Did part of you know better? Can you remember exactly what made you choose the option you did?
Now, move forward in time from that decision and note the consequences of it. . . Where did that decision lead? What were the immediate results of that decision? Were there any long-term consequences of that decision? Are there any lingering consequences that continue to affect you today?
As you think back on that decision today, were there any defining qualities of that decision that stand out? Did it come from a certain way of thinking? Was it accompanied by a certain feeling? Did it lead you to take a specific kind of action which led to a specific kind of result?
Make note of any significant differences between your good decision and your poor decision. Are there any insights about making good decisions that you can draw from these contrasting experiences?
What if you had some great questions to ask every time you had an important decision to make that would lead you to make the better choice?
In her book, “The Intuitive Way,” (Beyond Words, Second Edition, 2009) world renowned intuitive trainer Penney Peirce suggests five simple questions that can lead to and/or support great decisions (p.178-179, TIW). These techniques use imaginative and sensory-based cues that suspend your normal logical mind.
In a sense, these questions are “tricks” that momentarily silence your habitual thought process and open you to a deeper intuitive knowing. Since these “trick questions” side-step your usual thought process, they avoid your usual hang-ups and limiting beliefs. They give you direct access to that part of you that knows what you need to do to move forward.
Lest you think these are just “out there,” consider that the chairman of the board of Sony Corporation uses one of these highly-intuitive methods when making his most important decisions. As Peirce describes:
“He pretended the potential solution to a problem was a piece of food, and he tried to eat it. If he could swallow it easily, if it had a pleasant taste or left him feeling satisfied, he took it as a sign of truth. But if the solution stuck in his throat, sat like a rock in his stomach, or gave him a feeling of indigestion, it was a definite no-go.” (p.178, TIW)
Which leads us to the first fun trick:
1. Taste: When you survey the options before you, imagine that each of them is a type of food. In your mind’s eye, pick each one up, one at a time, and “eat it.” How does it taste? Does it go down easy? Does it digest well? Make note of your reactions to each option when you consider it as “food.”
2. Sound: Now, imagine that each option is a piece of music or a sound. “Listen” to each option, one at a time. What does each sound like? Is the sound pleasing to your ears? Make notes about each option.
3. Fragrance: What if each option you are considering had a smell? Consider each one in turn and notice what it smells like. Does it smell sweet and pleasing or rotten and putrid? Make note of how each option smells.
4. Texture: Return to each option and notice what texture is has. If you could touch it, how would it feel on your skin? Is it rough or smooth? Prickly or cozy? Cold or warm? Hard or soft? Make notes on the first qualities that come to mind.
5. Truth Symbol: At this point, you probably have a good sense for which option is appealing to you. The following technique is a quick way to check to see if something is in alignment with your deepest truth, with your soul path. You’ll know this by its resonance with a personal truth symbol.
The first time you do this, you’ll need to discover a personal truth symbol. You can do this very simply. Close your eyes, take a couple slow deep breaths to relax, and imagine that you are surrounded and infused by the purest diamond white light.
Allow a “truth symbol” to appear in the clear space in front of you. You don’t have to think deeply about this, just notice what appears first and how it feels. Examine the symbol on all sides, including from above and below. Imagine that symbol lighting up with a radiant light to indicate truth.
Once you are satisfied with your symbol you are ready to use it. Apply it to each option.
Call your first option to mind. Overlay your truth symbol on top of it and notice what happens. . . Does your truth symbol light up? Does it remain clear and well-defined? Does it darken or become distorted?
Make notes on what happens with each of the different options you are considering.
As you use these five fun tricks, you may find one that works really well for you—one gives you strong and clear indications. Or you may find that you gain the most insight by doing one after the other, deepening your clarity using each one in succession.
I encourage you to experiment with all five when you are considering jobs, potential partners, what food to pick on a menu, or what route to take to any destination. With a little practice, you’ll get better and better at using them—and you’ll discover which ones work best for you. Not only are these a great way to gain insight, they’re also really fun. They can bring light and clarity to decisions that are weighing heavily on your mind.
I would love to hear some of your results or any questions you have in our Discussion below.
Next week, my wife Monica and I are off to Glastonbury and Stonehenge in the U.K. for a Reiki Teacher’s Retreat. For next week’s message, I will post an interview Monica and I did a couple months ago about how to set up your own daily spiritual practice and connect to intuition as a guide for your life.
Until next time, when faced with decisions, let your senses show you the way!
Enjoy your practice!
Kevin