The following is a short and simple practice to be called upon whenever you find yourself in a stressful decision-making space.
If you find yourself wanting to make a healthy decision, yet you are being pulled to do something that you know or feel to be “wrong” – then here’s a practice to try out:
Practice
- Pause – stop whatever you were doing
- Exhale – let your breath release fully. Follow up with several slow breaths
- Check in with yourself: What were you doing and why were you doing that?
- Was it something that you would enjoy?
- Was it something that would bring you a sense of fulfillment?
- Was it something that would directly support your ability to reach your health goals?
- Allow the answers to come to you, whether it’s in the form of a clear thought or a sensation in your body
- Pay attention to the answers, and when you do so, do your best to do it without judgement. Just notice what comes up.
- Get ready to make your next decision. If you feel any resistance, take more time to breathe. If you feel serious resistance, try out a grounding practice.
- Make your decision
- Check in with yourself afterwards: did you actually enjoy the results of that decision? Did it make you feel good? Bad? Tune in, and let whatever comes to you sink in so that you can make an even better decision for your own self next time