“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Nightly for many years I lay in my lonely marriage bed and fantasized about what I called “running away from home.” I could never quite see how I’d do it. To keep thinking about it seemed to relieve the pressure of my daily struggle but still no action for 15 years.

Now I realize that my biggest moment of power was when I made the decision to leave my husband. I made a decision. I even trusted it though I had not thought the whole idea through. This time what blossomed in my mind as a result of that decision was the awareness that I could rely on myself. And as important, the decision motivated the actions that followed.

I had heard the voice of my Real Self guiding me and it was in this way that I decided the future of my life. I heard “could” instead of “should” and “want to” instead of “have to”.

The old ego-mind voice was trying to keep everything the same for itself and left a heavy feeling in my gut. The new voice left me feeling uplifted and light. It felt like angels in my heart rather than a pitchfork in my butt.

Tony Robbins is quoted as saying, “To decide is to cut off any other possibility.” Making a decision means jumping from one state of mind to another. Before – I thought and felt this way; now – I think and feel this new way. Make a decision and it is not hard to follow the new way as it generates a new consciousness and therefore, ideas, knowledge and different-than-before actions follow.

Right-Brain and Left-Brain Decisions:There is right-brain decision making which is intuitive. And, there is left-brain decision-making that is systematic. Above is an example of right-brain decision-making. Intuitive decision-making hides the steps. You make a “belief-in-your-own-knowing” leap of faith when you trust and act on this kind of decision.

Recently I made the left-brain, systematic decision when I decided after seeing my cheeks and nose turn bright red from eating too many refined carbohydrates, that I would eat only what I knew was right for my body.

For several days my mind went crazy trying to get me to eat the wrong stuff. Here’s what it did then and for the past 40+ years:

I heard my mind use scientific information it had previously gathered to its own “advantage” to try to get me to eat refined carbohydrates.

I heard my mind discount all scientific information as to how excess weight happens and how refined foods effect that – as hooey.

I found my mind leaving me completely confused about what is the right thing to for me to eat. And confusion is a very rare state for me. I may not know something but I generally know that I don’t know.

I found my mind telling me that all this food preparation was too much work and takes too much time.

I heard my mind telling me that eating the same things over and over is boring.

In the recent past I’ve found myself being evasive to people who I want to think I’m following a special program perfectly.

I have also watched my mind give me permission to eat whatever I want as if I’m the parent and the child at the same time.

Often at the beginning of a diet, an eating program or an exercise program I’ve had strong enthusiasm and watched my thoughts generate real excitement only to have that feeling of enthusiasm fade and so too my resolve. My mind was now generating “it’s not so great” thoughts and so my feelings followed suit.

I’ve also heard my mind telling me that “this hunger will be too much to bear”.

I found my mind telling me and making me feel that “I don’t care” about anything other then the food at hand I’ll just eat what I want. And that’s really a funny one. Every time I’ve listened to that voice for the umpteenth time, it is immediately followed by another voice beating me up.

Thus I made a decision – “I cut off any other possibility.” So I just listen to the voices, feel the feelings, don’t do what they tell me to do and they fade away.

You made a decision and read this article. Reading an article is not a big decision or a big deal. Was it an intuitive decision or a step-by-step decision? My guess is that it was an intuitive decision. If that is so, then it may follow that your intuition is guiding you toward a journey of transformation and beginning to reveal a new opening of consciousness that is forming in you.
So having made the decision, though unconsciously and now having become conscious of your decision, you can look at what else you need for your transformational journey.

In the 12 Step program they say, “If you want what I have, you have to do what I do.” I’m happy to share what I do; however, I’d like to tweak the 12-Step statement a bit and say,

IF YOU WANT WHAT I HAVE AND DON’T HAVE IT A HAPPY MARRIAGE, GOOD FAMILY RELATIONS, WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND VERY SATISFYING, PURPOSEFUL WORK, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN YOU ARE DOING NOW OR IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS DONE YOU’LL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU ALWAYS GOT!

My writing and coaching offers the ways and tools that work for me. Choose these or whatever else works for you. Simply be honest with yourself along the way.

Taking on transformation as a way of life requires certain attitudes and mindsets in other words, a decision. You will want to acquire or unearth in yourself willingness, commitment, integrity, courage, compassion, accountability, responsibility and trust.