Life is so full of ups and downs,
twists and turns,
ins and outs, and
heart moments that leave you solution-searching.
Most days I ride this rollercoaster of life with my hands straight up and my mouth wide open–lots of smiles and giggles. On those days, I cannonball in the waters and swim frantically to the top for air, learning as I go. However, there are days when my zeal is zapped, and my mind meanders through mucky moments of uncertainty.
Why?
Why does the answer come easy on some days and others you have no idea which way to turn?
It’s in moments like this, I simply have to go with what I heard my heart last tell me. The last thing I was sure of guides me until the next moment of surety or the next brave cannonball-in jump.
How do you navigate tough decisions?
Do you have a confidant? Someone you can rely on to guide you one direction or the next? I think I’m that person for a lot of people; however, that’s never really been an option for me. It’s just not in the hand of cards life dealt me.
Do you pray or meditate?
I usually go back to my why. What is it I stand for and how will the next move impact my why?
Another super nerdy thing I do is make a T-chart? Yes, I’m an #ultimatenerd. If it’s not something I’m willing to cannonball in the waters and try, and I’m stuck on a decision, I usually list out the pros and cons of each choice. Then, I weigh out the options. Which answer seems to make the most sense? It doesn’t always work, but it does provide a new way of looking at multiple solutions.
What are your tips?
In what ways do we help our students navigate tough decisions? Do we show them multiple ways to reason out their options? Do we share our vulnerability when things are tough for us, and we don’t know which way to turn? Or, do we share lessons learned from making a poor choice?
Life is hard and the struggle of making the “right” choice(s) is REAL for all humans–not just children.
For me, it works to trust the last sure thing I felt in my heart until I feel a new point of surety. Also, many times I run things through the filter–“If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is TOO good to be true.” Trust your gut. But, I’m not going to lie, guts are hard to trust.
REAL talk.
Decision making.
The struggle is REAL.
What are your tips? What do you do when you’re at the decision-making crossroad? What strategies do you teach children when they are facing a similar REAL struggle?
