clearing the mental chatter so we can find the answers within

Even after alllll the personal growth I've experienced over the last several years, I still occasionally fall prey to worrying about what other people will think about some of my decisions. Over the last two weeks alone, I've become aware of how the fear of others' perceptions have ALMOST impacted my choice-making process on more than one occasion.
I was grappling with an old fear of being judged.

I've done a lot of work to free myself of worrying about other people's perceptions - but that doesn't mean these old habits don't pop up from time to time. Our thought patterns and ways of thinking have been forming over the course of our life and it's not always easy to change them (it takes continual practice...).

It's much easier to continue believing everything we think. But sometimes, our old ways of thinking can be a block and keep us from opening up to new experiences.

A big part of what I do for myself - and with my clients - is to encourage exploration that supports heightened awareness and then real change.

Opening to the possibility of new perspectives, exploring different alternatives than what we have allowed ourselves to consider in the past, and asking ourselves the challenging questions are important pieces of the puzzle.

Often, we already know what's right for us... the answer is somewhere inside. Sometimes we just need help clearing the chatter so we can access it. We need to recognize when it's fear creating the confusion and doubt. We may fear the unknown and uncertainty that change can invite into our life. Perhaps we fear what the changes will require of us. Or maybe, like in my example, we fear being judged for our choices.

To move in the right direction for US, it's critical to silence the "noise" and tune in to what *WE* really want.

When contemplating new options, keep these suggestions in mind:

• Pay attention to what feels right to YOU. When you're exploring choices, don't prioritize your fears about what other people will think or how they might react. You can care for that piece later, AFTER you've made your choice. Choose what feels best for YOU.
• Explore which options feel most resonant to you. Which option(s) feel most aligned to the future you are creating for yourself?
• Experiment with "soft choices" - allow yourself to mentally make a choice and sit with it for a few days, as if to "try it on." How does it feel? What concerns or fears come up for you?

Be willing to learn and adjust as you go. Even if you make a decision - if things shift for you later, you can ALWAYS change your mind. Nothing needs to be forever.

Keeping these tips in mind as you make your decisions will help you step out of your own way and move in your desired direction.