Hi Friend
I wonder if this is the week? I’m sitting here on this lovely Saturday morning looking at my blank screen and pondering if today is the day I won’t be able to extract anything from these past seven days worth writing about. Sure I have a funny story about my daughter and our recycling bin, that I’m not at liberty to share. Yes, we had a few fires in our little pit out back, plus s’mores.
I figured out all the elements to provide a virtual conference, which has a lot of moving parts. I went to the dentist, not once, but twice. I wrapped up the fourth week of a HostingCEOs experience that concluded as hilariously as it started. I got to celebrate the Regional Food Bank’s 40th birthday. We started the slow process of purging our attic. But is there anything in there that offers learning?
I don’t know what education lies beneath the surface, but I’m confident there is something there that will add to my life. If not, this would be the end of the letter and neither of us want that.
Something else transpired this past week: I erased my chalk-board chart and decided our daily zoom offerings will conclude at the end of the month. I made this decision on Wednesday morning when I was going about other things. It was a gut-check that struck me as the right time to end this season, so we can move forward to the next one.
Making Decisions is Easy
That’s a funny phrase, mostly because it’s opposite of what we normally think and feel. This past week however, it was true. A combination of several elements that had been brewing brought me to that place. I didn’t realize it was “building up” to that moment of decision, but now looking back I see that it was.
I thought it was intuition and went with it. That’s why it felt easy. There was no hesitation or internal struggle, I made the announcement and got on with life.
Why do we normally think decision-making is a hard business?
Unknown consequences
Fear of the change
Relational impact
Increased Work
Security of consistency
Historical proof
Insufficient Support System
I can scan through that list and check each box for bringing our daily zoom season to an end.
What hard decisions are you facing? When you filter through that list, which aspects still need accepted or challenged? They’re not something to be resolved, but embraced or rejected.
Making Decisions is a Wrestling Match
Choices frequently possess conflict. That internal angst of making the right or best one, weighs on us in proportion to love. Who is impacted and how much we care for them, defines the density. What mitigates indecision is trusted voices.
Have you been in a scenario where all of your options seemed unappealing? We tend to avoid those. And by not making a conscious choice, our indecision becomes a decision. When left alone we’ll linger in limbo for a shockingly long period of time. Having trusted allies, friends, counselors, advisors, mentors, coaches in our life lets us take the conversation out of our head and into reality.
That doesn’t diminish the necessary work or unknown ripples but it can move us to a place of peace fortifying our willingness to choose. Grappling with all the variables turns circular without external inputs. You and I have spent way too much time in our head rehearsing more possible future timelines than a Marvel movie.😆 Don’t wrestle alone.
Making Decisions is a Door Opener
You haven’t noticed this blank page filling with words. Your only experience with it is a completed correspondence. I haven’t articulated or thought about these ideas exactly like this, until this morning. I made a decision four-and-a-half years ago to write you every Saturday. I made a decision this morning to get up and attempt to act on that old decision.
That created the opportunity for me to learn. It generated the possibility for you to entertain a new thought or two, as well.
The Game Show “Let’s Make a Deal” was literally the tangible, visual expression of all our decision making. Door 1, 2 or 3. Pick. Period. Dress up in a costume and negotiate if you must, to get there. No one ever said “Monty I am unwilling and unable to select a door, so I’ll just wait right here.” If we get a Wah Wah Waaaah behind the door, the good news is, we have more doors to open.
Instigating Ideas:
1. Talk to someone about a decision you’re wrestling with.
2. In your indecision, identify which of the elements on the list hinders you most.
3. Pick a door, make a decision.
The last two weeks I had small indicators about the changing season. With both Zoom and the Chalkboard, they served their purpose. Let’s act upon our nudges.
I dare you to pause and ponder your last week to see what evidence appears concerning decisions or seasons. I would love to hear how you take steps towards making a decision. Please Share