Category: decision making

Before you go.

Posted on by Kim in decision making, happiness, transitions

I worked on the 26th floor of a downtown highrise for over 6 years.  The view was amazing.  I remember how I felt after my last round of interviews, taking the elevator back down to earth thinking, “I hope I got it!”  And then I did, and I was so happy.  It was just what I wanted.

The company was huge and had offices around the world.  Yet the San Francisco office was small enough that everyone knew nearly everyone.  If you hadn’t worked directly with someone at one point or another, then you probably said Hi to them in the elevator or kitchen.

Time passed, and the company and I both changed (as people and companies do).  Continue reading “Before you go.” →

Entertain a new idea.

Posted on by Kim in decision making, happiness

Sometimes an idea shows up and it is so ridiculous.  It may slowly arise into clarity, or it might be immediately bright and too loud.  You might discover it on your own, or someone you know could introduce you.  But there it is, a new idea knocking on your door.

I say, open the door and receive the idea as you would a guest.  Invite it in, offer to take its coat, show it to a comfortable seat while Continue reading “Entertain a new idea.” →

I have no idea how this is going to end.

Posted on by Kim in decision making, happiness

I was struggling with possibility.  Option A was familiar, known, predictable.  Option B was uncertain and risky.  Inside my head a voice wrenched with frustration cried, “I want to choose Option B, but it’s risky and I don’t know how it’s going to end!”

And then there was a quieter voice that answered.  It said:  Well guess what?  You start things all the time not knowing how they are going to end.

And I realized it was true. Continue reading “I have no idea how this is going to end.” →

Emerging.

Posted on by Kim in decision making, happiness, love, making the world a better place, TED

In May I attended TEDxStanford.  I arrived in a police car.  I had parked on campus and got lost on my way to the event.   I was there pretty early and there weren’t many people around, so I was relieved to find a campus police officer.  I asked him if he knew where the TEDx event was.  “Sure,” he said, “I can give you a ride if you want.”

How nice!

“You’ll have to sit in the back, though.”

Continue reading “Emerging.” →

Ask useful questions.

Posted on by Kim in decision making, happiness, writing

I was stuck.  Faced with a nagging problem that wouldn’t let me go, I went round and round asking myself:  What should I do?  Maybe you’ve been there, too.  If you have, then you know how utterly exhausting it is to get sucked in to that endless loop of a question.

I spoke to a few close friends, I journalled, I read Hafiz and looked to some of my favorite blogs and other sources of inspiration.  And finally, I realized that part of my problem was Continue reading “Ask useful questions.” →