In a pickle.

Oh to be caught in a pickle.  It’s rarely exciting, unless you’re playing baseball in the 1960’s and your life is some version of the movie Sandlot.

No real life pickles (and not the dill kind) are usually much more challenging.

You’re stuck in a difficult situation, deciding between two choices.

Maybe you’re deciding over two job offers or you’re trying to figure out which bill is more important to pay with your limited funds.

Whatever the situation is, getting caught “in a pickle” usually puts you in a position of fretting and stewing (thus the phrase) over either option.  If you go with option A, you have a list of pros and cons.  If you go with option B, another whole set of pros and cons.  Either way, this list making and stewing doesn’t help you come to a decision. It actually causes more fear, tension and stress as you churn over the options.

All that churning is like a mental washing machine.  It’s exhausting!

What can you do?

I’m not against list making and I’m actually a pretty avid list maker, but after you’ve brain dumped all those thoughts, walk away.  Stop thinking.  Go meditate.  Visualize what you really want.  See yourself doing each option and feel it.  And as you’re feeling and seeing your options, you’ll know which choice is right for you.  That choice is going to be the most in alignment with who you are and what you want.

If you find that you need to choose the option that isn’t in alignment with your ultimate goals, is there a reason for this that holds a heavier weight?  For example, you have to pay the mortgage and this is your only way to accomplish that need.

If you go down this path, are you okay with that choice?

Or is it temporary? If it is temporary, give yourself checkpoints to stay on target with your goals and the steps that will take you back to your aligned choice.

Lastly, try not to rush your decision.  A lot of fear comes up when we are in this position and need to make a choice.  Instead of allowing that fear to engulf you, instead give gratitude for what it is you truly want, as if you already have it.

The gratitude takes the fear away.  It just washes it away and the tension is gone.  It’s pretty magical.  It’s an act of surrender that allows what you want to come rushing in rather than clutching to what you don’t want.

Give it a shot and let me know how it goes.

“When you say ‘Yes‘ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘No’ to yourself.”