Wise Decisions!

Here's a way of running a difficult decision through a series of filters. Do you remember the archetypal story of "The Wizard of Oz"?

1. First, take Dorothy's position - all she wants to do is "get back home to Kansas". What do you most wish for from this decision?
2. Next, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow. He wants a brain. So what calculations can you make about your decision?
3. Dorothy's next companion on the Yellow Brick Road is the Tinman. He wants a heart. What do you feel most strongly about this decision - what's your gut feeling?
4. Then Dorothy meets the Lion. He wants courage. What are your signature strengths? And what strengths do you need to exhibit most to make this decision?
5. Finally, the friends arrive at the Emerald City and there they meet the great and terrible Wizard of Oz. In essence he asks, "what is the wisest thing to do?
6. But before Dorothy and her friends can achieve their desires they must go on a quest to kill the Wicked Witch of the West. What kind of quest are you on? What does this decision mean in relation to your life journey?

Face-to-Face

Have you noticed how you can feel so self-justified in an argument? Usually when you know you've done something to upset the other person yet you defend your actions valiantly! What are you defending against? Seeing the stark reality of your default nature stripped bare. The very antithesis of "who it is I say I am". The constant companion. Walking beside you in the shadows. You must meet this nature of yours face-to-face and engage him if you have any hope of slipping his sub-conscious and reactive hold.

No Worries!

Despite being a pathological optimist I've done a lot of worrying over the past year. I put it down to the GFC. But how much worrying is too much? Chronic worrying - fretting - is associated with a need to control events in life. Does it work? Research shows it's a good idea to worry productively about those things that you can definitely influence. But fretting actually undermines the body's ability to react to stress, weakens the cardiovascular system and disrupts normal emotional functioning. I try not to worry about that!