What’s involved in taking the leap of faith?

What is your current leap of faith? Starting a new relationship? Resigning from a job? Moving to a new place? There can often be a great deal of inner turmoil when we are making big life choices; the head can be saying one thing and the heart something completely different. All sorts of emotions and narratives can show up, some we might not even be expecting. It can feel like it takes up so much time and energy wading through the possibilities to work out what feels right for us

Other times, it can be all too overwhelming, and we choose to ignore it and trudge along in our discomfort because we think it might be easier than digging in and doing the work to make the necessary changes. For me, when I notice I am sick of hearing myself talk about the same problem over and over, I know it is time to dig in and do the work, time to pivot, face the fear and embrace the changes.

So, how do we navigate it?

How do we make a big decision and trust that it’s the right thing to do? My short answer to this is just 'trust yourself', but as we know, building trust isn’t that simple… it involves quite a lot of effort and elbow grease, and it can feel a little bit sludgy too.

Go inward and get quiet

We can often look outside ourselves during a time of decision-making, seeking input from external sources, a friend, a family member, or good old Google… and sometimes overlook our own thoughts, feelings and judgement. Other people's perspectives can be useful, but ultimately you still need to consider what the decision means for you.

It’s a good idea if you can, either in a journal or with a coach or non-judgemental ear, to really look at all the parts that are coming up. What is your head saying about the situation? What is your heart saying about the situation? Are you able to identify the different emotions and what they have to say? Letting all 'parts' have their say, without judgement and becoming the observer of the situation, puts you in a powerful place.

From the position of an observer, we can have a bird's-eye view of where to turn next – we can ask ourselves:

• What needs to happen to bring my head and heart in line? Perhaps your head needs to see a spreadsheet of the financial implications of your resigning so it can create a savings plan or understand the consequences. Perhaps your heart needs some evidence that you will put some boundaries in place so it doesn’t get hurt again.
• What might my emotions be telling me about what I need or what feels important to me? Do I need support to give myself space to figure this out?
• Can I notice any unhelpful patterns in my thinking? Are there limiting beliefs or negative self-talk that might be holding me back?

If it feels difficult to navigate, you are not alone. Dealing with internal conflicts can be exhausting. Working with a coach who feels aligned with you can be a non-judgemental sounding board to support you in exploring your options and deciding what your next step might be.

Trusting yourself doesn't mean having no doubts

You may not reach a point where every part of you feels completely certain about a big decision. Trusting yourself doesn't necessarily mean having no doubts; it can mean listening to those doubts, gathering the information you need and deciding which direction feels most aligned with what matters to you.