In the midst of analyzing a spreadsheet full of career options, pros, cons, and practical considerations with my client, I noticed something missing: the heart. We were fully immersed in the logic and next steps but the emotional and intuitive aspect of decision-making was left out.

It’s easy to forget how powerful the heart is when making choices, especially in something as monumental as a career change. I dare to say you should consider your heart in almost any decision you make from what ice cream flavor you want to bigger decisions that impact you as well as everyone around you.

Honestly, why wouldn’t you add your heart to the mix? After all, major life decisions like switching careers, relocating, retiring, or beginning a new relationship all deserve to be viewed through your heart. Heart-centered decisions resonate on a deeper level. You are not only considering external success. You are considering internal fulfillment.

Asking questions like “What would your heart say?” and “What would your heart do?” seem pretty relevant to major decisions. You are thinking about committing to something big. It is a 24/7 change. It will affect how you view yourself, how you live your life, and how you interact with others. It will affect your emotional and physical well-being. It should feel right—not just logically, but emotionally.

You are probably asking “How do I ask my heart if I am making the right decision?”, “What if my heart says no to a decision I thought I should make?”, “What if I’m not sure?”

Here are a few things to consider when making heart-centered decisions...

Self-doubt and intuition are two forces that shape the way we make decisions, move through life, and pursue our dreams. At first glance, they may seem like opposites—self-doubt being the voice that holds us back, while intuition guides us forward. Instead, think of these two internal forces as intertwined, often working together.

Understanding Self-Doubt

Self-doubt is that inner voice that questions our capabilities, skills, and decisions. It can be rooted in fear, past experiences, or someone else’s expectations. It is a natural human response designed to protect us from failure and uncertainty.

When doubt becomes our default reaction, it can become overpowering, stifling creativity and holding us back from pursuing opportunities that align with our true desires.

The Role of Intuition

Intuition, on the other hand, is a quiet but powerful sense of knowing. It’s often described as a gut feeling or an inner nudge that directs us toward what feels right. Intuition operates on a deeper level, processing subconscious information and aligning our actions with our values and goals. It’s our mind’s ability to synthesize complex information into a clear signal.

The Connection Between Self-Doubt and Intuition

The relationship between self-doubt and intuition is complex...

Childhood is all about unabashed curiosity. I used to spend an inordinate amount of time playing with my Barbie dolls (don’t judge!) - acting out scenarios, dressing them up, and creating a dialog between them. And then there was my Easy Bake oven where I mastered the birthday cake. Summers were devoted to pool time where I spent hours playing or at least until my lips turned blue. This play was all fueled by curiosity.

And then, somewhere along the line, I tamped down my curiosity. I’m not sure when it happened. It’s not uncommon. It happens as we head toward adulthood. Life gets in the way. We get busy with work, obligations, and our social lives. We might think we are being judged and our curiosity gets tamped down even more. Our fears take hold and we think we are not capable of achieving something. We may question our self-worth and believe that we don’t deserve something.

I started to miss my curiosity so I began to explore why it had diminished as much as it did. It took a lot of self-exploration and I realized I was hiding behind my fears and limiting beliefs. I was living in my own little safety bubble. I was playing it small.

I was so grateful when my curiosity slowly reappeared. I hadn’t fully realized the impact it had had on my life. And you know what reappeared with it…

I am all over the place these days! I am having trouble focusing on the here and now? My brain is a bit foggy. I switch gears in the middle of doing one thing to do another. My physical well-being is on the fritz - I tested positive for COVID for the 1st time. I thought I was invincible - immune to COVID. Nope. My emotions are all over the place too. I am happy one minute and sad the next. There was a scene in a show I was watching that just did me in…I was sobbing. What the heck! Seriously!

The more my mental, physical, and emotional well-being goes astray, the more unfocused I become. I shared the fact that I tested positive for COVID with some very astute coaches. The key takeaway is that this downtime is a gift - everything I think I need to do can wait. It’s a time to be still, be aware, and watch for messages from the universe.

So that is what I’m doing. I am slowly becoming acutely aware of why I am unfocused, physically depleted, and emotionally drained.

First, I am grieving the loss of my parents - my father a few months ago and my mother six years ago. It comes out of nowhere. That’s the way grief works. My desire to talk to them is deep and profound.

Second, I am in transition. In fact, I have been in a constant state of change and transition for close to 10 months now including a relocation and a loss. I would normally be close to settled in my new life except for the fact that I plan to move again. I feel untethered, ungrounded, and exhausted…

I honestly…

With all of the resources at your disposal, how do you determine what makes sense to and for you? Let me suggest the most powerful resource - your intuition. Your intuition is your inner voice, a gut feeling, an internal compass. It goes beyond logic and reason. It helps us make decisions that align with who we are and our values. It tells us what feels right. Trusting your intuition can unlock your full potential and enhance your creativity.

Here are a few reasons why you are your best resource… After all, who better to determine what is right for you than YOU?