Hello Reader,

When was the last time you made a decision that was truly intentional? Not reactive, not habitual, but deeply considered and aligned with your core values? Intentional living is the difference between letting life happen to you and actively creating the life you want.

Many of us pride ourselves on being good decision-makers, but we rarely examine the framework behind our choices. Are we choosing based on fear or growth? Comfort or potential? Other people’s expectations or our own truth?

One of my clients, a successful executive, realized she was making all her decisions based on what would look good on her resume rather than what would bring her fulfillment. She had the corner office but felt cornered by her own choices. Through our work together, she developed a personal decision-making framework based on her values rather than external metrics. Today, she still has professional success, but it’s on her own terms, and it comes with a deep sense of satisfaction.

This Week’s Tool: The Values Compass This decision-making tool will help you align your choices with your values: 1. List your top 5 personal values (examples: authenticity, growth, connection, creativity, impact) 2. Create a simple chart with these column headers: - Decision to Make - Option A - Option B - How each option aligns/conflicts with my values - Gut feeling (1-10) 3. Use this chart for every significant decision this week 4. Notice patterns in which options consistently align with your values

Keep this tool handy on your phone or in a notebook. It takes just 2 minutes to use but can prevent years of misalignment.

Ready to start living more intentionally? Reach out to me at empowered@coachedbyernest.com to learn how we can work together to align your daily choices with your deepest values.

Ernest

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