But, when the decision is whether to have another child, move to another city, leave a place of employment, get divorced, get married, or buy that sale priced house, the outcome of the decision is on a much grander scale and the angst over the actual processing of what is needed to be on the other end of the decision is sometimes not all that forthcoming or easily reached as an outcome.

So now that we're all pretty much in agreement that the decision-making process is one that is not at times all that fun to go through, what exactly can be done about that? Right?

Well, as I've experienced it throughout my days here, the decision-making process is one that can be just proceeded though, or it can be one that one takes time to delve into and ascertain all the subtle nuances of the 'problem' or decision that needs answering.

I know that I've done both, depending upon the situation. And, unfortunately, both have had their varying shades of outcomes so it's not too easy to tell which way is the best depending upon which situation one is in.

It might even come down to one just going with their gut, so to speak. That quiet inner voice that is speaking to each of us all the time, except that we're not listening.

Didn't the bible or some other religious book state "Be still and know that I am?"

Well, I say "Shut up and listen!"

Or, in a more politically-correct tone: "Be quiet and listen."

One of my favorite inner development teachers, Vernon Howard, stated once "the mind that created the problem cannot be the same mind that has the answer".

I've learned to live by this over the last few years. Our mind wants us to listen to the many solutions it has for us and the decision that is needing addressment in the moment. It has the solution and knows exactly how to help up make the decision that is needed.

It has the answer and all we have to do is listen to it.

Well, that's fine at first glance. But, in the long run it's not too smart. Why?

Well, if the mind has the answer that we needed, we wouldn't be needing to make the decision in the first place. It got us into the place of needing to make such a decision, as we are already in it. If we didn't get in that situation requiring a decision in the first place we wouldn't be needing to make the decision. It's that simple to see.

Again, in my experience, the one thing to do, and this is not something that is new to us humans, is to simply listen for the answer. It's there, in us, in the universe, in the space between words, in the silence in our hearts and lives.

It's there. But we can't hear it.

The mind is there, we all know that. The mind has a whole potpourri of answers for us. It has solutions out the wazoo for us. It has 47 ways from Sunday as to how to decide that particularly befuddling decision that is pressing into us now.

But, what usually happens when we actually follow what it says we need to do? Well, we're all too familiar with that answer. Again, we're living it. The decisions we're needing to make are because of prior decisions that we made, which were based on what the mind was advising us to do.

Yes, we decided. We followed that advise. We made the action or non-action occur. But, now we're in the same crossroads, and it's only when we STOP and LISTEN and SEE what's in front of us needing actual deciding that the clarity of the moment can present itself to us.

We have to go about this another way than we have been doing to-date. It's not the same 'ol same 'ol way of doing things if we don't want to be in the same decision-making place several days, weeks, or months down the road.

A different view, an alternative approach is necessary. One that isn't from the mind.

Yes, I know this isn't usual. This isn't something that appears easy. It isn't at times. It's not easy to be with non-action. That's contrary to everything that is telling us to move. It's not easy to be with action. That's contrary to everything that is telling us to be still.

Stop. Then take long enough to actually get clarity about the decision that needs to be made. Even if it's only a brief moment, few seconds, or as long as a few weeks or months. Listen to that silent voice that's always there. It's there. I'm learning to hear mine.

It knows what needs to be done. At an innate level, it knows better than your mind.

The next time a decision comes around the corner, and we know that won't be long, right?.....

Go inside, of you. Listen to what's there. Trust it. Trust your Self.

Written by Andre Best
President, Ultimate Results, Inc.
http://www.andrebest.com
'Learn About Life From Another Perspective'

(Author's permission is granted to share this full article with others. Just leave the signature line intact, please.)