Tool for Making Genuine & Purposeful Decisions

I made this to counter the online profiling that is becoming more sophisticated in manipulating us to produce specific results – mainly buying stuff, but also voting and other important choices. Obviously every decision we make has the potential to move us closer or further from our true self and values, so if we want to feel happy and like we’re living our lives fully it really does matter.

Before making a decision, you can run through these questions to check in with your genuine self to see if something is right for you. 

This exercise will be even easier and more accurate if you have already established your core values and current goals (tools for this are upcoming). 

1.I want to buy/ do this because it will give me ___

Example: higher social standing, more self-esteem, distraction from my problems/ pain

2. I want to buy/ do this because it will make me feel ___

Example: more powerful, beautiful, interesting, successful, complete. 

3. The messaging I am reading (in an ad, for example) is trying to make me believe  _____.

Example: I am not enough, I am weak, I need to be stronger than others, I am ugly, I am flawed.

4. The company or individual is trying to make me feel _____ .

Example: I need to spend money or act in a certain way to be valuable, influential, loved. 

5. According to my deepest self and values, I feel that this feeling/ need I am experiencing, telling me to buy/ do this thing is or is not in line with who I am deep down, in that ___.

Example: the want is in line with who I am in that I don’t feel beautiful/ important/ powerful right now.

6. If the want or need is genuine, then I feel the most truthful and “me” way to meet it would be to ____. 

Example: take a bath, go for a run, look at happy photos, hug someone, draw something, buy something from an ethical company. 

I hope this tool helps you to make genuine choices that suit your personality, values and spirit. I am not against buying things, but I am generally against manipulation and control. If you bookmark this page you can quickly come back and use the tool before making decisions. 

If you find this useful in making great choices and countering impulsive spending, please share it with your friends! 

I do find advances in tech exciting, but I like to keep things human at the core of my coaching and writing. This includes being thoughtful about using technology and mindful of its environmental and sociological impact. It also means I don’t use AI to write, so for better or for worse, my blogs, guides and books are all me! (My mind to your mind – such a nerd haha).

As the behind-the-scenes forces acting on us get more efficient and persuasive with the use of AI, it may get harder and harder to stay connected to ourselves. In terms of self-development I believe that we need to be that much more aware of staying true and present with who we are deep down, and thoughtful about how we want to show up in the world (as well as the kind of world we want to create together).

You will find more self-development tools on my site and in my books to support you in being you. Take care!