Finding Your Path Forward in a Dilemma

Whenever you are facing a dilemma or conflict of any kind, there is model you can use that can help provide you with some clarity. There are six areas to reflect on. Based on the six question model from Strom Gottfried. Here are the six areas or questions:

Who will be helpful? Ask yourself who do you know that has experience with this topic in any way. This can be a someone you know and can speak with or this could be someone who can serve more as a role-model and you can observe what they have done and if you want to follow their example.

What are your choices? Take a moment to identify all the possible options to this dilemma or conflict. This is not a filtered exploration but really trying to identify all possibilities first; there will be time for evaluating the choices later. The benefit of looking for all options is it may allow for ideas you did not even know that could only be discovered after following the thought trail of less helpful thoughts.

When have you faced something similar? Think about your past experiences and if you have had anything similar happen. What were your choices then and what was the outcome. This may guide what to do or it may guide which actions to avoid.

What are your resources? Take inventory of your strengths, skills, and material resources. Think about what you have available to help with the situation. It may be financially based, it may be the knowledge you have, it may be the connections you have. Explore what could possibly help with this issue.

What are the reasons you are choosing this action? This one is actually very important specifically with the context of the situation. Are you making a choice to make others happy/people-pleasing? Are you making a choice that is a short-term solution for a fast fix, but it will come back again? Maybe it is the easy way out, and there is a way that may allow you to lead to greater growth. Think about the why and make sure it is a response to the highest good.

How should you respond? After going through these other questions, you can now think how you may want to respond. There is no pressure to predict the future, that is not possible but think about the most likely outcome. Which response is most aligned with your values and appear to have the best chance of a preferred outcome?

So, the next dilemma or conflict you are experiencing, I invite you to reflect on these six areas and see what clarity comes up for you.