Decisions, Decisions

I moved to Colorado 10 years ago; seems hard to believe. The decision to uproot my life, again, wasn’t easy. There were many factors that contributed to my eventual move. My marriage had ended, I had finally graduated from college, and my position at work had been eliminated because why would patients diagnosed with cancer and their family need a social worker? Some outcomes were bitter, some made my life better.

After deciding to create a completely new life, there were questions that helped me evaluate my options. Now that I have a private practice working with clients, many of whom are making huge life adjustments, I use those same questions to help them assess their choices:

How long have you been considering a change?
Are thoughts of change a result of a temporary rough patch, a sudden loss, or years of dissatisfaction?
Who else is impacted by your decision?
Do you have the financial resources to support this decision?
Where/when/how will this change take place?
What outcome are you hoping to achieve?
And finally, as Brene Brown suggests: What would you do if you knew you could not fail and, what’s worth doing even if you fail?

The answers to these questions are as individual as the people asking them. Rarely are these kinds of decisions black or white. Life is usually several shades of gray depending upon the day, situation, and those involved. Unless someone is in an abusive, life-threatening situation, I recommend taking your time, breathing deeply, and listening to your head and heart. Praying can’t hurt either.