Podcast

The Science of Decision Making

Knowing how the actual science of decision making works, really helps in building a foundation for making good decisions, and making good decisions is the foundation for not just everything in daily life, but also for your business.

There’s actual science behind why making a decision can become so paralyzing.

The physical part of yo ur brain comes into play here.

The front of the brain is used for weighing consequences, planning, and logic.

It literally takes emotion out of the equation.

A completely different part of the brain operates impulses and raw emotion.

This includes fear, anxiety, and overwhelm.

This emotional part of the brain interrupts the front of the brain from its focus.

It shuts down its ability to screen out the information that doesn’t matter.

How do we stop anxiety from intruding on our decisions?

Be mindful.

Mindfulness is a muscle.

It strengthens the front of the brain, allowing you to make more grounded, relevant decisions!

The ability to be mindful actually limits the influence of things that don’t matter, so you can move onto the things that do. Isn’t that amazing?

We talk about mindset a lot, mindfulness is a huge part of strengthening our mindset.

Where is the anxiety and indecision really coming from?

Stress triggers distraction and engages the part of the brain that confuses decision making.

The stress you’re feeling may have been justified at one time, but now it’s just in the way of making the actual decision.

Look to the source of the stress to reduce it’s behavior.

Take the time to shift from emotional thoughts and feelings and move to what’s actually happening.

Thoughts, feelings, and actions are related but they don’t have to control each other.

They affect action, but you can seperate them.

To make the most progress, do the action that makes sense to the front of your brain and your thoughts and feelings will catch up.

Just because there are several options, doesn’t mean there’s a wrong one!

How would you make decisions if you KNEW there was not a wrong decision?

Anxiety can trick you into thinking one choice is good and the other is bad, when really, either might be good.

If you’re feeling really stuck between two, it likely is a sign that neither is wrong. Isn’t that a calming thought?

Once you have your choices narrowed down ot one, and you make your decision, you’lll start organizing your environment, your behavior, and your responses to make sure it works out.

Let’s use a couple getting married for an example…

Once they choose their venue, now more things they can do become “unlocked”. They can now do invites, event times, surrounding location choices such as hotel blocks… then they can move onto the next steps automatically. It’s a “one foot in front of the other” approach.

Let’s think about something in your business the same way. The decision you’re trying to make is what direction to go in next for your marketing. Is it maximizing your SEO? Your FB engagement? Your Instagram? Speaking of IG, is it stories, reels, newsfeed, IGTV, guides, redoing your bio, redoing your bio link? Is it being more present on Pinterest? Is it working on your network and referrals? Feeling paralyzed yet? This is exactly what I’m talking about, there’s no wrong decision here, other than to let the paralysis keep you from deciding on one.

Once you choose one of them, it unlocks the next things to do to develop it.

Get that developed, keep putting one foot in front of the other, then you can move onto the next!

Your resilience, creativity, and resourcefulness will support you and propel you forward. It’s so satisfying!

Keep the positivity in all of it by being guided by what you want, not what you want to avoid.

Anxiety loves to accentuate the negative and present you with only negative outcomes.

It forces decisions to be made around what you don’t want vs what you do.

Imagine how much better the decision for what you do want will be like, instead of just settling for what you don’t want!

Knowing this is a game changer for your confidence!

Hot tip: apply these skills when helping your couples make decisions!

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