A follower messaged me and wrote, “I want to make wise choices, but I never know when I’m listening to instincts or my ego!” Do you feel the same way? Then let me give you a style icon: Luke Skywalker.
Reverend Matty tweeted, “The entire movie Star Wars is about how Luke Skywalker can’t see anything using technology. At the end, he turns off his computer, relies on himself, and eyeballs the shot that destroys the scariest technology of all. How did it take me so long to notice this?!” That tweet is a perfect example of what happens when you detach from the “what abouts” racing in your mind and tune into your instincts.
Smart choices aren’t limited to superheroes—you can learn how to make them using the soft skill of discernment. So, in April, you’ll learn practical ways to be discerning in the series, Four Steps to Making Wise Decisions.
Step one is to listen to the messages your heart is saying, and that includes getting feedback your personality would rather not hear. Let me tell you how a friend used that small voice to make big changes.
My friend Janie is one of the hardest working, most diligent people I know. That’s why I was surprised when she told me how she asked her former boss to fire her. Well, kind of.
Janie had a light bulb moment after a week-long motorcycle trip in the Rocky Mountains. She told me, “There was something about being in that fresh mountain area that cleared my head. Luckily, I was on good terms with my manager, so after I finished telling him about my vacation, I dropped the truth bomb. I said, ‘Do me a favor—if I’m still here in a year, fire me.’”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Why would you say something like that?!”
“Because we both knew it was long overdue!” Janie laughed. “I hadn’t been a positive, productive employee in a long time—not at that job. What I was happy doing was volunteering at Habitat for Humanity. Time away made me realize that I had to get out of limbo and make a choice. I either needed to stop phoning it in and recommit to my day job or take the leap to go in another direction. I got serious about building a nest egg, and a year later, he didn’t have to fire me because I had enough savings to quit. And that’s how I got started in real estate!”
Janie’s ego could have told her, “You know how to do this job blindfolded. You’re here every day—that’s enough!” But smart decisions don’t come from overconfidence or will. Instead, the trick is to bravely listen to your gut instincts, even when they feel uncomfortable. For Janie, that meant acknowledging crystal-clear insights like:
* This job has run its course
* You have more to give
* That after-hours thing you love? Pursue it!
* You have what it takes to figure out the financials
You might be in a similar situation. So, rather than brushing off what may seem awkward, courageously take note. Here are three ways to start:
Start paying attention to your instincts—they’re trying to give you inside information about what your future holds. If you want to make a wise choice, don’t minimize those messages—listen up.