I wrote about clarity in decisions in the post here:decisions-because-you-cant-keep-dating-every-option There are some strategies there, but below are a few more with some elaboration:) Enjoy! (The initial options for decision making were these, in case you don't go to that other post...but I hope you do go! • Know your values: Decisions get easier when they reflect who you want to be • Check your nervous system: Regulate first. A calm mind makes smarter choices • Name the tradeoffs: Every yes requires a no. Clarity comes from acknowledging the cost • Commit: Once you choose, stop reopening the question. This builds confidence and mental strength ) The elaboration: 1. Set your criteria before you choose -Indecision often comes from not knowing what “good” looks like. Decide your criteria before you evaluate options. This keeps emotions from hijacking the process and reduces cognitive load. 2. Time box your choices -Give yourself a specific window to decide. The brain performs better with constraints because it reduces analysis paralysis. Short deadlines force clarity. Sometimes I struggle with this because a self imposed timeline feels arbitrary because i can always change it (but then I guess I'm not showing integrity with myself and I guess that's not good..) 3. Run the “future identity” test Ask: Does this choice serve the person I am becoming? Not the person you are today but the version you’re working toward. This uses the psychological principle of “self continuity” to pull you toward long term goals. 4. Evaluate the opportunity cost honestly Every yes has a silent no built into it. Name the no. This keeps your decisions aligned with your values instead of default habits! Name the NO. Find ways to create friction so that choosing the no is harder. Find ways to decrase friction so that the yes is easier. 5. Get out of your head and into data

Good morning, empowered fam! Just checking in on you all to see how your first quarter of the year went and what your intetions are for the next three months! :) Here are some things to ponder: 1. What are some wins of the past 3 months? 2. Where do I need to make some adjustments/where is there opportunity for growth? 3. What are my intentions for the next 3 months? Attached is a Quarter 2 Planning Worksheet! :) Consider the different areas of life: Relationships, Spirituality, Physical/Mental Health, Career/financial, Purposeful Action, Creativity, Overall Personal Growth. POLL: How did the last 3 months go?

Last week we spoke about the first 4 principles of success as described in "The Rhythm of Life" by Matthew Kelly (more here : day-1-purpose; day-2-priorities; day-3-balance; day-4-discipline). Today we delve into the fifth principle: Discipline (Just a small but important note, the term success here can be applied to many areas of life, and ultimately, it's really just about intentionally becoming the best version of yourself.) Principle 5: GROWTH “If you are not growing, you are slowly dying.” Growth is a non-negotiable principle of life. It doesn't have to be a constant upward progress, it can be seasonal, but it's gotta happen in order to avoid the soul shrinking that will happen as a result. Stagnation is not neutral...it's regressive and stagnant water becomes putrid and also has the tendency to infect things around it. Growth must be intentional and often requires humility-admitting what you don't know, where you need help and recognizing a need for change. We often mistake growth for intensity-doing moer, pushing harder, building up speed. But we must not confuse momentum with growth. Think of riding a bike down a not so smooth hill and at the end you need to make a turn. Momentum on it's own could end up being catastrophic--being intentional with how you navigate the hill, when to apply the breaks, when to maybe even walk the bike is necessary. This analogy is only in relation to momentum because part of growth may also need to bring in the question "is this a hill that's really best suited for my goal/my life". Sustainable growth requires integration meaning that it requires the space to process, reflect, and consolidate what has been learned. Without this rhythm/balance, growth becomes compulsive and lessons aren't fully learned.Again, it's not necessarily about speed. It's tough though because we can struggle with delayed gratification sometimes.

Going with something simple today. 😊 When was the last time you changed your mind about something?

Any highlights you guys wanna share from the past week/weekend? Anything you're looking forward to this upcoming week? Here's a picture of the sunrise I got to catch this morning. It was SO cold, but so beautiful and worth it.