Decision Making: Harnessing Our Unique Abilities
1. Control Physical Impulsiveness:
The initial phase of decision-making is driven by our instinctual, physical impulses. These responses are often based on fear, anger, sadness, and temptation—what we refer to as our F.A.S.T. EMOTIONS. These primitive emotions were essential for survival, triggering the sympathetic nervous system to help us meet our needs. Like animals, these impulses kept us alive for millions of years.
However, in today's world, these impulsive responses can lead to problems in our relationships and interactions. Without awareness, these four emotions can dominate our behavior, causing conflict and stress.
Sarah is working in a busy office environment. One afternoon, she receives an email from her manager with unexpected critical feedback on a project she worked hard on. Her immediate reaction is to feel a surge of anger and defensiveness. Her impulse is to reply instantly with a curt email defending her work. Instead, Sarah takes a moment to step away from her desk, breathes deeply, and acknowledges her emotions. She recognizes that her initial reaction is driven by the F.A.S.T. EMOTIONS (fear of failure, anger at criticism). By controlling her impulsiveness, Sarah prevents herself from sending an email she might regret.
2. Set Emotional Intentions:
Once we control our physical impulses, we move to the emotional phase of decision-making. This involves setting our emotional intentions, considering the feelings of those affected by our decisions. Our emotional gifts make us aware of our feelings and the feelings of others, which is crucial for collaboration and social harmony.
Prioritizing the well-being of others helps us work together as a social unit. By setting intentions with love and empathy, we can make decisions that are beneficial not only for ourselves but for the community as a whole.
Alex is hosting a family dinner and notices that his cousin, Jamie, is unusually quiet and withdrawn. Alex’s initial impulse is to ignore it and focus on enjoying the evening. However, Alex decides to set an emotional intention to make everyone feel welcome and supported. He takes a moment to think about how Jamie might be feeling and approaches him with kindness. Alex asks Jamie if everything is okay and listens attentively. This emotional intention creates a supportive environment, making Jamie feel valued and heard.
3. Implement Decisions with Spiritual Guidance:
The final phase involves implementing our decisions using spiritual guidance. This requires the use of knowledge accumulated over time, both intellectually and intuitively. This stage is about moving from satisfying our basic needs to addressing our wants and desires.
Implementation is challenging and requires patience and wisdom. By integrating knowledge from our collective consciousness, we can make informed and thoughtful decisions. This shift from impulsive actions to intentional and informed decisions allows us to improve our existence and positively influence the world and its inhabitants.
John is part of a community group planning to build a local park. Initially, there’s a heated debate among members about the park’s location, driven by strong emotions and personal preferences. John feels the impulse to argue for his preferred location, but he controls this impulse by listening to everyone’s perspectives (Stage 1). He then sets an emotional intention to find a solution that benefits the entire community, considering the feelings and needs of all members (Stage 2). Finally, John seeks spiritual guidance by reflecting on the community’s long-term goals and values. He proposes a compromise location that combines the best aspects of the suggested sites. This decision, informed by collective knowledge and intuitive insights, is accepted by the group, leading to a harmonious and successful project implementation (Stage 3).
The Evolution of Human Decision-Making
Initially, humans relied heavily on their physical gifts for survival. Like wild animals, our ancestors responded to their environment based on instinct and the F.A.S.T. EMOTIONS. However, as we evolved, our decision-making processes had to adapt to new challenges:
Learning from the Past: Humans developed the ability to learn from past experiences and store knowledge. This allowed us to make better decisions and improve our existence over time.
Emotional Awareness: Our emotional gifts enabled us to understand and prioritize the feelings of others. This awareness was crucial for social cooperation and collaboration.
Spiritual Guidance: Implementing decisions required spiritual guidance, which involved the use of accumulated knowledge. This knowledge was not just intellectual but also intuitive, providing a deeper understanding of the world.
The Journey to Improved Decision-Making
By controlling our physical impulses, setting emotional intentions, and implementing decisions with spiritual guidance, we can move beyond mere survival. This journey involves:
Controlling Impulsiveness: Recognizing and managing our instinctual responses to avoid negative consequences.
Setting Intentions: Using our emotional awareness to prioritize the well-being of others and foster collaboration.
Implementing Decisions: Applying knowledge patiently and wisely to address not just our needs, but also our wants and desires.
Through this process, we can make decisions that are not only beneficial for ourselves but also for the greater good, empowering our beings and contributing positively to the world.
Mindfulness Exercise:
Exercise: The Three-Stage Decision-Making Process
Objective:
To practice mindful decision-making by controlling physical impulses, setting emotional intentions, and implementing decisions with spiritual guidance.
Duration:
15-20 minutes
Materials Needed:
A quiet space
A journal or notepad
A pen or pencil
Instructions:
1. Preparation:
Find a quiet space where you won't be disturbed.
Sit comfortably with your back straight and your hands resting on your lap or knees.
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.
Stage 1: Controlling Physical Impulsiveness:
Awareness: Begin by bringing your attention to your physical body. Notice any tension, discomfort, or restlessness.
Breathing: Focus on your breath. Inhale deeply and slowly, then exhale fully. Repeat this for a few minutes until you feel calm and centered.
Reflection: Think about a recent situation where you acted impulsively. Reflect on the emotions you felt (fear, anger, sadness, temptation). Acknowledge these emotions without judgment.
Stage 2: Setting Emotional Intentions:
Intention Setting: Bring to mind the same situation. Now, think about how your actions affected others involved. How did they feel? How did your impulsiveness impact your relationship with them?
Emotional Awareness: Write down your reflections in your journal. Describe the emotions you felt and the emotions of others involved.
Empathy Practice: Set an intention to consider others' feelings in future decisions. Write down a positive affirmation, such as "I choose to act with empathy and consideration."
Stage 3: Implementing Decisions with Spiritual Guidance:
Knowledge Integration: Think about what you have learned from past experiences similar to the situation you reflected on. What knowledge or insights can you apply to future decisions?
Spiritual Guidance: Take a moment to connect with your inner wisdom. This could be through a brief meditation, prayer, or simply sitting in silence, allowing intuitive insights to arise.
Action Plan: Write down a simple action plan for how you will implement your intention in a similar future situation. Consider practical steps you can take to ensure your decisions are thoughtful and considerate.
Conclusion:
Gratitude: Take a few moments to express gratitude for the opportunity to reflect and grow. Acknowledge the effort you put into this exercise.
Closing Breath: Finish the exercise with a few deep breaths. Open your eyes slowly and return to your day with a renewed sense of mindfulness and purpose.
Example Scenario:
Imagine you had a disagreement with a colleague at work. In the heat of the moment, you reacted impulsively with anger (Stage 1). Later, you reflect on how this reaction affected your colleague and your relationship with them. You recognize the need to set a positive emotional intention to improve your interactions (Stage 2). Finally, you consider past experiences and gather knowledge on effective communication strategies to implement in future interactions, ensuring your decisions are guided by empathy and wisdom (Stage 3).
This mindfulness exercise helps you practice controlling impulses, setting intentions, and implementing decisions thoughtfully, fostering better relationships and personal growth.