5 hacks to making powerful, effective decisions

Do you consider yourself a good decision-maker?

If not, listen up. Because indecision is one of the biggest and most draining energy leaks.

And if you’re already pretty good at making decisions, consider this a masterclass.

If you’re an entrepreneur, creator, leader, parent or business owner, you’re making decisions constantly.

When you’re clear, well rested, and rooted in heartfelt, soul-aligned purpose, making decisions can be a swift and smooth process, moving us forward toward our mission.

But what about those times when we’re unclear, depleted or exhausted, feeling stuck and uninspired? We know that if nothing changes, then nothing changes. And in order to create change, we must first make a different choice.

The root of the word decision literally means to cut or to slice. When we decide, we use the sacred sword of discernment and slice away the no so we are left with the yes.

This makes decisions an optimal place to focus our energy during Autumn, as autumnal archetypal energy has to do with pruning dead limbs.

This is a perfect time of year to take things off your plate, to simplify, to trim the fat and let the old leaves fall away so you can send all your vital energy to the thing that matters most.

Let’s look deeper into the well of decision-making, because how confidently, swiftly and wisely you make decisions will make or break how effectively and quickly you’ll move toward having a bigger impact with your sacred work.

Here’s a few common snafus that keep us stuck in decision fatigue, overwhelm, avoidance and paralysis— and solutions to shift yourself into being a Supreme Decision Maker:

Snafu #1: You’re afraid of making the wrong decision.

Truth: there is no such a thing as a wrong decision. Abraham Hicks said: “you can’t get it wrong, and you’ll never get it done.” At first this quote freaked me out, but in time, it brought deep relief. There are no mistakes, friends, only learnings!

Solution: Stop fearing you’ll make a mistake, and lean in.

This is a test. Can you TRUST that any and every decision you make will absolutely bring you closer to your truth and to your purpose? Stop worrying you’ll choose wrong, and simply choose! Choose first, course correct later. As my mentor Rachel Rogers says, “Launch it ugly.”

Snafu #2: We take ourselves, our work and our life WAY too seriously.

All of us do this. It is a rare human awakened enough who doesn’t get lost in the deep furrows of their own forehead. And why not? The world news alone is enough to make us cry, let alone our own challenges with work, relationships, and the creative process.

Solution: Choose to be delighted at the opportunity to be human.

Do you know how lucky you are? How small the chances are, that out of all the cosmic waves, particles and energy forms existing in the universe at this very moment, your soul choose to incarnate as a human being in this lifetime at this very moment on Planet Earth?!? Let’s not waste this life away by being tense and stressed out. One of my core intentions for this year was to start taking myself less seriously— this intention has been SO helpful in moments when I’m having a hard conversation, feeling disappointed in myself, others or life, or any other heavy, emotional moment. Are you courageous enough to try this intention on for yourself?

Snafu #3: We’re trying to do too much at once

“The one who tries to chase two rabbits catches neither” — Confucius

When we’re overburdened, we become overwhelmed, and when we’re overwhelmed, we don’t see the big picture. I always know I’m ignoring things when I feel overwhelmed. Overwhelm is my indicator that I’m avoiding making a choice, avoiding looking at the details, avoiding the attention that needs to be given in order for clarity to be reached.

Solution: The fastest balm to overwhelm is paying attention.

Feeling overwhelmed with finances? Spend 30 minutes a day looking at all your account balances and making a budget. Feeling overwhelmed with everything on your personal or professional plate? Do a brain purge and get everything you’re thinking about out on paper or in a word processor doc. When we can see it, all the sudden it becomes less overwhelming. From there, we can prioritize.

Bonus Homework: google the Eisenhower Grid and categorize everything on your plate today. Watch with amazement as you realize you’re spending all your time on the least important things.

Snafu #4: We’re not listening to real, tangible universal feedback

We as humans really like to control everything. We don’t like not being in control. As a result, we suffer! Our need to control our life experience (and other people’s life experience) causes most of our suffering. If we could actually be more attentive and observant to what is actually happening before our very eyes, perhaps decisions wouldn't be such a struggle.

Solution: Assume the omens are there, and watch for them.

I can think of countless life situations where I didn’t get what I thought I wanted in the moment, but later on it was clear that I got exactly what I needed. Marianne Williamson says miracles are occurring constantly, but we miss them because they don’t come packaged the way we want. When we’re paying attention to the doors life opens and closes for us, it’s usually pretty obvious what the next step is. When we ignore the omens and signs, that’s when things get messy.

Snafu #5: We override our intuition bc we’re trying to be “good”

We’re great at making decisions with our brain instead of our gut. I recently had to pull out of several commitments I had made (listen to my podcast episode on becoming a better quitter for full story), and when I traced back to the moment of those choice points, I realized I had made decisions based on “should” rather than my own wise discernment. I wanted it to be the right time rather than it actually feeling like the ideal time. And it came back to bite me in the ass.

Solution: Allow your real truth to be heard.

What would allow yourself to do if you were to behave “badly”? I heard this query in my health coach training program years ago, and had totally forgotten about it until my most recent energy session with my friend Alexis, who called me out on trying to be a good girl. Then, as synchronicity would have it, I read about it again in “We Should All Be Millionaires” by Rachel Rogers. Often, whatever your answer is will lead to the most nourishing thing you could possibly do for yourself, which will likely prime you for being your best self and showing up more fully for your missions and your people. So what would you do if you gave yourself permission to be “bad”? A “bad parent”, a “bad teacher”, a “bad artist”, a “bad student”? In that answer lies some gold. Unearth it and give it a good look. Maybe that’s your next homework assignment.

To put a touch of gold on this transmission, here’s 3 final tips to cultivate your wise discernment…

a. Get a pendulum.

Seriously. I’ve used mine to help me price my offerings and make even apparently big decisions, and you can use them too, for literally anything.

b. Order the “Make a decision” pad from Knock Knock.

They make all sorts of cheeky little books, note pads and helpful pre-made list pads. This one is golden.

c. Don’t allow yourself to say “I’m bad at making decisions”

Our thoughts create reality! Instead, try this mantra:

“I am an expert decision maker. My inner Emperor is alive and well. I use my wise discernment to make intelligent decisions on the daily.”

Okay beloved, I’d LOVE to hear from you!

How did all of this land for you? Are you already great at making decisions like a boss, or do you need to implement some of these tips asap?

DM me on Instagram (@brittagreenviolet) and let me know, I’m just a message away.

To your inner Emperor who makes decisions like a boss,