Advice From a Thriving Young Adult

“Only do things you actually truly want to do” - wise words shared by my middle son.

My decision-making is often muddled with what-ifs, self-doubt, second-guessing, thinking about what is the "right" decision. I have been streamlining my decision-making over the past few years using coaching and mindfulness. I am much better than I used to be. And adding in this advice - to only do things I actually truly want to do - is a powerful uplevel.

"Don't do anything you don't truly want to do" is another way to say it.

This exact thought helped me make a decision easefully yesterday. A decision that would previously have caused me a lot of angst.

I made the call to skip a kayak trip with the whales due to a not-fun launch situation before even trying. I didn’t actually truly want to go if there was a high probability of getting dunked at the start. Lots of initial mind drama and old patterns of what if I missed out on something fabulous... what if I was ducking out of a good challenge. Instead of getting dunked and pummeled by waves, we had a fabulous morning that included a beach walk on Makena Beach all by ourselves- no one else was there at 7:30 am— followed by acai bowls, coffee, and conversation in the park. I got a full refund and it turned out they ultimately canceled the trip anyway.

Your mind might tell you this approach is selfish or not allowed. It isn’t what “good” people do. My guess is that, like me, you are trustworthy enough that doing only things you really truly want to do will serve you and everyone else extremely well. MUCH better than if you waste time and experience regret or resentment doing things you don't really truly want to do.

What would change in your life if you started only doing things you actually want to do?