How to Make a Big Decision (should we move to Costa Rica?)

A 5-min. practice to make up your damn mind, plus a song for a slow river.

Hey, Brave One. When you share your unique creative voice, you’ll face tons of decisions. What to focus on? What to let go of? If you flip-flop around making choices like me, today’s 5-minute creative practice (jump to steps) is for us. Plus a spontaneous soothing river song.

Costa Rica does not suck, y’all. Still…

Do you suck at making decisions? Even tiny ones?

Do you feel pressure to decide NOW, or even yesterday, but you’re just not ready? Same. Even ridiculously privileged choices can throw me (e.g., what media do you wanna watch? Swim now or later?)

Dominant culture says: Be bold-n-quick! Yet our diverse neurowiring means one size does not fit all. Being Mostly Brave means exploring your world for clues, data, and signs, then trusting your inner authority when making moves. Especially big-ish ones.

“Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.” ~ Malcolm Gladwell

Like buying property in a foreign land. Our longtime friends married Costa Rican sisters and built a sweet, communal enclave in the hills above Atenas. Back in the 90’s, I created marketing for their successful Ecotourism startup (even edited jungle pix in Photoshop while nursing my newborn). Now they graciously host us for months at a time and encourage us to buy a piece of it.

Moving to Costa Rica sounds delicious. I love the warmth, our affectionate ‘framily,’ and the political climate here. Hubby would love to build a low-impact house here. Still, it rains even more than Seattle. The expat lifestyle is a lot, and so is growing fluency in Spanish. Leaving folx we love in the States is hard. We could ‘commute’ for several months, or rent, but isn’t that excessive in a hot world of climate change?

How would you decide? Do you geek out on systems and oracles?

Astrology. Human Design. Enneagram. The I Ching. I’ve used them all (especially when I get desperate 🤪). With a Libra moon, I see the benefits of all sides of a choice. As an Enneagram 7, FOMO is real. My ultimate Decider is my heart/soul, the Emotional center in Human Design. When I let my heart lead, it’s never failed me.

What’s your Inner Authority?

While intellect, logic and linear decision-making dominate, many leaders trust their gut. As Einstein famously wrote,

“At times I feel certain I am right while not knowing the reason… Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.”

Time Travel for Big Decisions?

If you’re facing a life choice, big or not, let’s tap the power of imagination to reveal what your inner authority knows. See you in the comments 💗

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Today’s 5-minute practice: The Time Machine

From my deck, HeartsQuest: Creative Tools to Navigate Change

May this 5-minute practice help clarify your next move. This video features the ‘Holy Sh*t’ 💩 potty-mouth version of my deck of tools. Or follow the steps below.

Time Machine: How will this choice affect the future?

• BREATHE deeply. CONSIDER a key choice you’re facing. Identify your options. Feel the pluses and minuses. ASK: what’s at stake?

• IMAGINE holding a small Time Machine. Feel its weight, note its size, color, and controls.

• SELECT a choice you’d like to see play out. DIAL in a future time: a month from now, a year, five years, or? Push the GO button.

• ENVISION seeing the effects of your choice. How do you feel? Pleased? Any regrets? Go back and test other options if you like.

• REFLECT when done: “I believe...” What now?

Creative prompts to Make up your Mind

• EXPLORE: Journal your conclusions or share them with someone who’ll be affected by your choice. Listen.

• CREATE: Write a note to your future self. Tell her about the stakes of your choice, and your hopes and desires moving forward.

• MANIFEST: Make your final choice. How does it feel? Blow a goodbye kiss to the other options.

🗣️ Your turn: How do you make Big Life Choices?

1. Ever dreamed of escaping to a tropical paradise like Costa Rica?

2. Ever get your panties in a massive wad to decide something?

3. How do you finally eventually make your choice?

Thank you for Being You 💝 and envisioning your (mostly) brave future. Whether you heart, comment, and/or subscribe, your reciprocity means the world to me.

PS: I made a BIG DECISION 🙌🏽 Inviting you to join a Paid Subscription (ridiculously low $ til the end of August). Why? My heart craves deeper connections with you, Brave Ones. Together we rise. We can be braver sharing in a private space. Join us for brave creative challenges and Monthly Zoom check-ins on your projects and processes. Let’s melt self-sabotage and get on with a Mostly Brave creative life. THANK YOU 💗!

Spontaneous Love Song #16 for our sponsor, the Earth:

More to come,

As Brave Creatives, we face Monkeys of Fear when we share our voices. 🙉🙊🙈 So let’s grow more courage, compassion, and connections here. My work has appeared in Time Magazine, feature films and television, newspapers, YA fantasy novels, and on stages. My creative tools are used in therapy offices and bathrooms across the USA 💩 More at HeartsQuest.com.💗