Every single day we are faced with decisions to make.

We have an overwhelming amount of possibilities with many things in our lives. For example,

• Have you ever walked down the cereal aisle at the grocery store?
• How many different types of cereal exist?
• Should I pick the one that is healthier for me
• Or should I go all out with the great tasting, sugary cereal I loved as a kid?

In my coaching business, often times people are trying to make decisions on the habits to keep and the habits to quit.

One technique I like to use is the helpful vs hurtful scenario. Look at your definition of success for yourself.

What standards have you set for yourself? And when faced with a decision ask yourself is this helpful or hurtful to myself or my goal.

Today a woman in her early forties was faced with a decision.

She was offered a job that would give her a $20,000 raise. She was struggling with the thought of accepting the position or staying where she was. As she weighed out the pros and cons she still was torn.

She loved the flexibility of her job and being able to take her kids to school. She loved her position and the mission her company has. She literally was telling me all of the things that she would have to “give up”.

To me, her gut was telling her to stay but her head was telling her to take the money. One thing that I have learned is that money is not always the measurement of success for people. If we are constantly chasing the dollar and not asking if this is meeting my vision for my life, it can leave people feeling unfulfilled.

So the questions I asked were as follows:

• Will this new job get you to where you want to be in 5 years?
• What is more important to you, flexibility or more money?
• What is your definition of success for yourself in 5 years?

She came to the conclusion that her definition of success for the next 5 years is to be a great mom and take her kids to school, have the flexibility to go to their events, and since she did love her current position she would ask for a raise.

A decision is just a decision.

You learn from them, you grow, you keep doing what you are doing because it is working, or you change. Too many people get caught up in the “right vs wrong”. It’s just a decision and you continue to grow from there.