Making (Career) Decisions – The Gut Instinct
My kettle broke recently. Aside from the frustration that appliances seem to be made to wear out quickly, I was faced with the seemingly simple task of getting a new one.
But nothing is simple anymore. What should it look like? How much should it cost? And more importantly: even a kettle can pose health risks.
Should I go for plastic (phthalate emissions) or steel (nickel exposure)? Can you still carry the kettle comfortably when it’s full and hot?
Fortunately, the internet offers countless reviews: lid open, lid closed, water level indicator, does the ‘on’ light even come on – everything is checked. And yet the question remains: is this the right one?
I’ve already spoken to various people about this, and we all agreed. In many areas, we have the privilege of choice; that should actually be a good thing. But this freedom is often accompanied by a feeling of being overwhelmed, because you’re always choosing one thing – and thereby automatically against another. And this applies to far bigger things than household appliances; let’s take your career, for example.
THE AGONY OF CHOICE IS REAL.
People who come to career coaching rarely have too few options. Most are highly qualified, with a wealth of opportunities open to them. They want to know which direction to take and feel overwhelmed by the multitude of paths they could follow. So the problem is: I don’t know what I want. And often also: I don’t know what I’m capable of, but that’s another story. (And I can assure you, unseen and unheard: plenty!)
Every change is a risk; that is in the nature of things. It goes hand in hand with uncertainty and wobbly legs, because for a while you are no longer standing on the perhaps unloved but secure ground of the familiar. But how do you make such important decisions?
‘My gut feeling tells me…’ is a colloquial little monster, because I’ve never heard of a ‘head feeling’ before. But (setting aside the hair-splitting) it’s true – the gut speaks. It conveys physical sensations that go hand in hand with thoughts, attitudes and so on. These are the so-called somatic markers, signals that reflect and evaluate personal experiences. And we use these in professional coaching too. You can try this out and practise it by first making a small decision, say: what shall I eat today or what shall I wear? Consider two alternatives, close your eyes and listen to your gut.
