Every day decisions are made—some important, some trivial. In this line of work, decisions are often based on data. However, that is only one perspective. Other factors influence outcomes—internal desires and outside forces that cannot be measured with facts and figures.
Right out of college, most conscious decisions were based on logic. After four years of higher education, it seemed reasonable to rely on knowledge to make good choices. Job offers were accepted, places to live were chosen, marriage happened, jobs changed, and a family began—all using facts and figures. Internal desires and outside forces were largely ignored.
The results were mixed. Looking back, the heart was left out of the process. There was an unexpected price paid for some of those decisions. Growth often comes that way
Since then, the process has expanded to include the heart and the gut. The best decisions seem to occur when all three are in agreement.
The Process
The Head – Gather all relevant data. Make a list of pros and cons. Look at the facts
The Heart – Emotions play a role. We tend to move toward passion or away from pain. Here’s a simple test: when down to two choices, flip a coin. As it’s in the air, pay close attention to which side you hope will land face up. That preference often reveals the heart’s decision.
The Gut – Open your senses, then sort, organize, and decide using your subconscious. This is often called intuition. One way to activate it is to pose the question to your mind before going to sleep.
If the head, heart, and gut do not agree, consider the importance of the outcome. For minor issues, go with the strongest pull and accept the consequences. For major decisions, wait. Talk it through with someone to hear the thoughts out loud—they often sound different when spoken. Or hand it over to the subconscious for a bit longer. With some patience, an answer usually surfaces that feels right.
In today’s world, finding intuition can be challenging. Peers, experts, advertisements, and even the government constantly offer opinions on what is right. The noise is relentless.
It takes effort to shut it out and determine what is truly right on a personal level.
At FOCUS CPA, financial information is used as just one perspective in your overall decision-making process.
Mary Guldan-Lindstrom, CPA