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Conscious Decision Making in Your Financial Life

Julie Murphy • December 15, 2021
Conscious Decision

A conscious decision is one that comes from the heart space, instead of the logical side of our mind. 


Think for a moment about wealthy stock traders. 


Do you think they make unconscious or conscious decisions? 


If they’re good at what they do, they make conscious decisions. And if you want to get your piece of the financial pie, you need to learn how to make decisions from your conscious mind, instead of your unconscious.


But what exactly is a conscious decision? 

How does it differ from its opposite? 

A Definition of Conscious Decision Making


First, it might be helpful to discuss the conscious decision definition in its complete form. 

It was Sigmund Freud who broke down our minds into three categories, preconscious, conscious, and unconscious. He believed that each of these parts plays an important role in our behaviors. 

The Preconscious Mind is any piece of information that could potentially go into the conscious mind. 


The Conscious Mind is where all of our thoughts, feelings, wishes, and memories live in the present moment. We can think and speak rationally about that which exists in this part of our minds. 

The Unconscious Mind is the lowest level of our minds, and it holds the feelings, urges thoughts, and memories that are not within our conscious awareness. Anything that is unacceptable or unpleasant like our painful feelings live in our unconscious mind. 

Now that you have a better understanding of how your mind operates, we can shift our focus to the definition of unconscious and conscious decisions. 


Unconscious Decisions 


An unconscious decision is made from the repressed part of ourselves. People who follow the crowd often make these decisions. You can relate someone who follows fashion trends with unconscious decision-making. The impact of unconscious decisions, however, can be much more far-reaching than surface-level problems. 


The impact of these unconscious decisions sometimes can be far-reaching. Market share gains are foregone. Income is foregone. The ability to reinvest that income is foregone. Brand awareness is foregone.


Conscious Decisions 


Conscious decisions, on the other hand, come from a more fully realized place. It’s a decision that comes from our heart, mind, body, and soul. It’s typically based on careful thinking and maybe even meditation and prayer. 


When you take a more conscious approach to your decision-making, you’re far more likely to experience positive outcomes. Why? Because you’re in alignment with every aspect of yourself. This is conscious decision-making.


Why Even One Conscious Decision Can Change Your Financial Life


If you’re unfamiliar with conscious decision-making, then this process might seem unfamiliar to you. Maybe you’re more prone to make decisions based on what other people recommend to you. Or it could be that you just don’t take the time to think about what you really want. 


Whatever the case, even if you make one conscious decision in your life, you may be amazed by how it can turn your life around. Even financially.


Not only that, but once you start making decisions from your conscious mind, it quickly becomes second nature, addictive, even! 


So, how can you do it? Let’s check out a few simple steps to get you closer to conscious decision-making. 


Steps You Can Take to Leverage Conscious Decisions in Your Financial Life


How to Make Conscious Decisions Easily


Step 1. Become aware of your decisions. 

Are you fully aware of how your decisions affect your life and environment? Our financial decisions create a pattern and framework that makes it blatantly obvious where our minds have taken us. What I’d like you to do is to consider the last three decisions you’ve made. How were your decisions connected to your values? If they weren’t connected to them at all, then it could be that you’ve been making unconscious decisions. 


Step 2. Notice how you feel. 

What emotions did you feel after making each of your past 3 decisions? Are the emotions that you felt in the driver’s seat? Keep in mind, the best decision-making processes will make you feel alive. Why? Because they’re connected to your soul. Yes, even the financial decisions you make. 


Step 3. Accept what happens. 

No matter what we do, we can’t go back in time. When something happens, it happens. Accepting this is critical to moving forward and creating a better life for ourselves. The only thing any of us can do is decide what our next step is, and how we’ll decide to take it. 


Step 4. Take action or nonaction. 

Ultimately a decision is an action or nonaction. Yes, even refusing to make a decision is itself a decision. Use your head, heart, and gut to decide which path is right for you. Once you’ve analyzed your emotions and feelings and how it aligns with your inner world, it’s time to act. You can use this process for any area of your life. 


Some Examples of Conscious Decisions


Conscious decisions may not all look exactly the same, but they do produce results that are aligned with our hearts and minds. 


When we make conscious decisions, we stop and ask ourselves what we think. We take time to pause and breathe through the emotions and thoughts that run through our minds. They are not based on impulsivity or pressure from outside sources. They strictly come from within. 


For some people, journaling, meditation, and speaking with a good friend helps them make fully conscious decisions. 


If you’re trying to make a financial decision, you’ll do research, study up on the ins and outs of the process and potential benefits. Armed with this information, you’ll go back to your heart space and listen to what your unconscious mind is trying to tell you. Let your unconscious mind come to the surface through synchronicities and signs. Pay attention, and you’ll get a truthful answer from within.


A few other suggestions you can try include:


  • Look for patterns in your gut, head, and heart. What does it feel like when you make decisions in tune with each of them?
  • Create your own ritual around decision-making. That can look like burning candles and chanting or writing out lists. It’s up to you.
  • Ask people you trust for their opinion. 
  • Trust that you’re making the best decision with the resources that are available to you. 
  • Ask yourself what you can learn from past decisions. 



How Can You Start Making More Conscious Decisions?


Financial decisions are some of the most important any of us will make in our lives. If you’re living from an unconscious place, then you’ll continue to make unconscious decisions. 

Change the tide on your life by becoming more aware of your decisions and investing in yourself. You’ll be amazed by what happens to your finances when you begin to listen to your heart, mind, body, and soul.



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