What Part of You Is Solving This Problem?
What part of you is solving this problem?
If you’re overwhelmed trying to make a decision or figure something out, ask yourself:
“What part of me is solving this problem?”
How would you describe them? Anxious, tired, fearful, stressed…?
If that language doesn’t line up with how you want to be in the world, ask yourself: “How do I want to show up to this problem?” What values are important to practice? Curiosity, compassion, creativity...?
Then try viewing the scenario through that lens: What would my most creative self do? My most curious self? Most trusting?
And if that’s a bridge too far, what would it look like to be 10% more trusting? Or 10% more curious?
—
We can get so caught up in choosing that we forget who is doing the choosing.
And that matters, because our anxious self will see different solutions than our trusting self does.
Fear is a narrow lens to view the world through.
This isn’t about making aspects of ourselves “wrong” or “right”—it’s simply about making sure our best selves are on board when making decisions we care about.
So the next time you’re overwhelmed with a decision, ask yourself: Who’s doing the choosing?
Let me know if this resonates,
— Kate
P.S. Yes! This view is inspired by Internal Family Systems (IFS). I did a foundational training with the IFS Institute a few years ago, and it significantly shaped how I think about self-leadership and decision-making.
Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to my bi-weekly newsletter for notes like this delivered to your inbox.
