Have you ever had to make a really BIG decision in your life and you weren’t 100% sure what to do? Perhaps you felt pretty confident but slightly apprehensive. Or you just felt stuck and not sure what the next step should be.
Well, if that’s you today you’re in the right place. I know how frustrating it can be to not have peace and think that you’ll be all alone if your decision doesn’t work out as you had hoped for.
Success comes from wise counsel
Rest assured, all successful people have felt that way before, and sometimes they still feel that way. In fact, some of the most successful people still doubt themselves, they are just as human as anyone else, but they have learned to stay the course and seek wise counsel.
What it wise counsel?
So, what is “wise counsel” you may wonder… Well, wise counsel is receiving input from someone who has been in your position in the past and they made it to the other side successfully. These people are able to see your blind spots because they are not flooded with “what if” scenarios and fluctuating emotions. Not to say that everyone who has to make a big decision is filled with utter confusion and is an emotional trainwreck. But the truth is, we all want to be happy, and that is something worth protecting and planning for. Therefore, living a peaceful, joyful, healthy and successful life comes with wisdom and searching for effective strategies to obtain it.
Where to find wisdom
Finding wisdom can be a challenge sometimes. Some of us did not grow up in an ideal home and we may not feel comfortable asking a family member for advice. And sometimes, depending on the season you’re in, you may not have good friends who can point you in the right direction either. It can feel pretty lonely at times, trying to chase your dreams and accomplish big goals that no one around you has done before. The good news is, there’s hope. You need to search outside of your circle to achieve this task. You will find the appropriate help you need when you search for someone who is experienced within the topic you are facing. It sounds like a no-brainer to mention that but still, some of us feel more comfortable speaking with our hair stylist or barista instead of going right to the source.
If you don’t have a mentor, you can find some ideas below.
Finding the right person to speak with:
• Business questions/issues: Speak with a business counselor or business consultant
• Career questions/issues: Speak with a career counselor
• Education questions/issues: Speak with an academic advisor
• Family questions/issues: Speak with a pastor, counselor, or therapist
• Financial questions/issues: Speak with a financial advisor
• Fitness questions/issues: Speak with a certified fitness trainer
• Health questions/issues: Speak with a nurse, nutritionist, or your primary care physician
• Legal questions/issues: Speak with an attorney
• Marriage questions/issues: Speak with a pastor, counselor, therapist (if your marriage is difficult right now, please visit our previous post)
• Patent questions/issues: Speak with a patent attorney
• Personal life challenges/issues: Speak with a counselor, therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist
• Tax questions/issues: Speak with an accountant, tax advisor, or tax attorney
This is certainly not an exhaustive list but I believe you get the point. The important thing to consider is to speak with the right person. Depending on the situation it may not be wise to speak with someone you know personally. In addition to searching for the right person to speak with, you can also find an abundance of resources at your local library. Don’t be afraid to ask the librarian for help locating information on a particular subject. You may also find great resources online through your government’s website.
If you are having issues within the workplace, consider speaking with a therapist or counselor before speaking with your supervisor or human resources.
If you are having issues at home, visit FocusOnTheFamily and FamilyLifeToday for help.
Conclusion
Making wise decisions in your life starts by surrounding yourself with wise people. Perhaps now is a good time to consider some of the relationships in your own life: Do you have friends who constantly bring you down, always complaining, and not doing anything worthwhile with their life? If so it’s a good idea to begin to distance yourself from them. Our time on this earth is short. Don’t waste your precious time with people who don’t respect you and don’t encourage you to chase your dreams. You have to be the change you want to see in the world, it starts with us.
Pro Tip: One of the most important things you can do in your life is to find a mentor. Learning from someone who is older and more experienced will push you ahead in life exponentially.
