Rooted in Values: A 5-Step Practice to Make Confident Decisions Without Regret
Overthinking. Second-guessing. Playing out every possible scenario in your mind. Sound familiar? For many women, decision-making becomes a mental marathon of "what ifs" and "should haves." The good news is there's a calmer, clearer way forward: anchoring your choices in your values.
Here's a 5-step practice to help you make decisions you won't lose sleep over:
1. Know Your Core Values
What truly matters to you? Is it honesty, freedom, creativity and balance? Write down your top five values; they're your inner compass.
2. Gut-Check the Decision
Ask: Does this choice align with at least three of my core values? If it doesn't, you will likely bend for approval and not stand in your truth.
3. Don't Crowdsource Your Conviction
Your values are yours. Avoid the instinct to poll ten people before acting because this can cause confusion. Confidence grows in solitude, not group chats, especially not chats with the wrong people or people who project their fears on you.
4. Reframe Risk as Alignment
Taking a chance feels less scary when you know it reflects who you are. Saying yes to a bold opportunity - or no to a tempting but misaligned one - is easier when it's in sync with your values.
5. Let Go After the Choice
Once you've made the call, stop revisiting it. Rooted decisions don't need rehearsals...they need trust. This is one of the habits to cultivate mindfulness - detachment.
You don't need to chase certainty when you're grounded in what you believe. You are the certainty.