I Trust Myself to Make the Best Decision With What I Know Now

Summary

Podcast Summary: Mantra with Jemma Sbeg – Episode: "I Trust Myself to Make the Best Decision With What I Know Now" (Released March 10, 2025)

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Introduction

In this insightful episode of Mantra with Jemma Sbeg, hosted by Gemma Spag under the OpenMind banner, listeners are guided through the empowering mantra: "I trust myself to make the best decision with what I know now." Gemma delves deep into the nuances of self-trust, decision-making, and personal growth, offering a blend of personal anecdotes, psychological insights, and practical advice to help listeners navigate life's uncertainties with confidence.

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Personal Updates: Highs, Lows, and Who Knows

Gemma kicks off the episode by sharing a personal update about her newfound passion for Reformer Pilates. Transitioning from high-intensity workouts like boxing and HIIT, she discovered Pilates at the start of the year and quickly became enamored with its benefits for both body and mind.

"I have become a bit of a Pilates princess. I have begun doing Reformer Pilates now." [04:05]

She highlights how Pilates has not only enhanced her physical well-being but also improved her cognitive focus and rhythmic attunement with her body.

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Exploring the Mantra: "I Trust Myself to Make the Best Decision With What I Know Now"

Debunking the Myth of Perfect Decisions

Gemma challenges the common misconception that there exists a "one best decision" at every crossroads in life. She emphasizes the improbability of making flawless choices consistently, given the inherent uncertainties and limited information available at any decision point.

"Making the most perfect decision is not actually something that we can always do because we don't always have the information that hindsight kind of provides." [05:13]

Decision Paralysis and Regret: Action vs. Inaction

The discussion shifts to the concept of decision paralysis or choice overload, where an abundance of options leads to heightened anxiety and inaction. Gemma references a pivotal study on regret, revealing that people often regret inaction more than action. This insight underscores the importance of making decisions, even imperfect ones, to avoid long-term regrets.

"You are more likely to regret inaction than action." [08:47]

Self-Trust and Intuition

Central to the mantra is the cultivation of self-trust. Gemma explores how trusting one's intuition involves relying on the information at hand while having faith in one's ability to handle future outcomes. This balance fosters confidence and reduces the fear of making mistakes.

"Trust your instincts. Maybe even take a few minutes to meditate on it in silence, but make the decision." [34:49]

Resilience and Adapting to Outcomes

Gemma highlights human resilience, noting that regardless of decision outcomes, individuals possess the adaptability to thrive. She reassures listeners that no decision is irreversible and that growth often stems from learning through both successes and failures.

"We are highly adaptable creatures. So even if you may think that it’s the wrong decision, most of the time you can still progress and find a way out." [11:31]

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Personal Stories from the Host

Relationship Regrets and Growth

Gemma shares a vulnerable account of a past relationship that, despite being fraught with regret and external criticism, ultimately led her to significant personal growth. Moving to Sydney post-relationship taught her the value of trusting her instincts and how missteps can pave the way for future successes.

"I trusted my intuition or what I thought was my intuition at the time and it led me astray. But actually, that wrong decision has led me to a lot of correct decisions." [18:02]

Quitting a Full-Time Job

Another poignant story involves Gemma's leap from a secure corporate role to self-employment. Despite fears and external doubts, this decision allowed her to pursue creative projects and achieve a fulfilling work-life balance, reinforcing the episode's central theme of self-trust.

"I took the leap of faith anyways. I stepped into this abyss of being self-employed... No decision is permanent." [20:21]

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Deep Thought of the Day

Gemma shares a Maya Angelou quote that encapsulates the essence of the episode:

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." [24:03]

This thought encourages embracing past decisions as learning opportunities and underscores the continuous journey of personal development.

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Applying the Mantra: Journal Prompts and Weekly Challenge

To help listeners internalize the mantra, Gemma provides three journal prompts:

1. Decision-Making Style: Reflect on whether you rely more on logic, intuition, or external advice when faced with decisions and how this impacts your confidence. [28:38]
2. Reframing Regrets: Identify past decisions you regret and reframe them as moments where you acted with the information you had at the time. [29:12]
3. Positive Outcomes from Trust: Describe a time when trusting yourself led to a positive outcome and what you learned from that experience for future decisions. [29:24]

Additionally, Gemma introduces a weekly challenge urging listeners to identify and act upon a decision they've been overthinking or avoiding, reinforcing the importance of taking actionable steps towards trusting oneself.

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Listener Engagement: Messages and DMs

Gemma engages with her audience by addressing listener messages:

• Tarek's Inquiry on Long-Distance Friendships: Gemma offers practical tips such as scheduling regular communication rituals and utilizing social media creatively to maintain connections.

  "Make sure that you continue to create rituals so that they are still in your life." [31:52]

• Hannah's Reflection on Letting Go: Gratitude is expressed towards Hannah for courageously stepping away from a friendship out of genuine disconnection rather than obligation.

  "I'm very proud of you for taking direct action on that." [32:21]

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In wrapping up, Gemma reiterates that trusting oneself is an ongoing practice, not a one-time achievement. She emphasizes that the act of making decisions, regardless of their perfection, builds the foundation for a resilient and intentional life.

"Trust that you're doing your best with what you know, and that's always been enough." [30:12]

Gemma encourages listeners to embrace their decision-making journeys with grace and confidence, reinforcing that each choice contributes to personal growth and fulfillment.

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Final Quote

"Trusting yourself is a practice, not a destination. And each decision that you make with that confidence, even when the outcome is uncertain, it does genuinely strengthen your ability to navigate your life with grace, but also resilience." [30:12]

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Connect with Mantra with Jemma Sbeg

Stay tuned for next week's episode, where Gemma will share insights from the current challenge and continue guiding you towards a more intentional and empowered life. To engage further, listeners are encouraged to reach out via Mantra OpenMind and share their experiences.

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This summary captures the essence of Gemma Spag's episode, providing a comprehensive overview of the discussions, personal stories, and actionable advice shared to inspire and empower listeners in their journey of self-trust and decision-making.

Transcript

[Gemma Spag]

Foreign.

[Co-host]

This is Open Mind.

[Gemma Spag]

Welcome to a brand new week. Here is your mantra I trust myself to make the best decision with what I know. Now I'm your host, Gemma Spag, and I'm here to guide you toward a more centered and fulfilling life. Each week I'll share personal stories and insights that are focused on a specific mantra, plus journal prompts and a weekly.

[Co-host]

Challenge for all of us to help.

[Gemma Spag]

Put it into action.

[Co-host]

Think of Mantra as your mental reset.

[Gemma Spag]

Button, a way to stay centered as you juggle work, school, family and whatever else life throws at you. Each mantra is a simple, powerful phrase you can repeat to refocus your thoughts and bring a bit of calm into your day. It's a small tool with a big.

[Co-host]

Impact, clearing your mind, lifting your mood.

[Gemma Spag]

And rooting you you in the present. If you've listened to my other show, the psychology of your 20s, you'll know I'm all about those little nuggets of insight that make a big impact. So whether you're looking for some extra.

[Co-host]

Inspiration or you're just trying to ground.

[Gemma Spag]

Yourself amidst the chaos, you have come to the right place. At OpenMind, we value your support. Share your thoughts on social media and remember to rate, review and follow Mantra to help others discover the show. For more exclusive content, monthly bonus episodes.

[Co-host]

Early access and ad free listening, join.

[Gemma Spag]

Our Open Mind plus community on Apple Podcasts. This week I'll catch you up on what's been going on in my life and then we'll dive into today's Mantra. I trust myself to make the best.

[Co-host]

Decision with what I know.

[Gemma Spag]

Now this mantra is all about empowering you to make confident choices even when you're faced with a natural uncertainty. So stick around. We'll be right back after this short pause.

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[Gemma Spag]

Welcome back. We are going to get into this week's mantra in just a few seconds. But before we do, it is time for my highs, lows, and who knows. All right, I'm going to talk about a who knows? And it is a new addition to my workout routine. Drumroll, please. I have become a bit of a Pilates princess. I have begun doing Reformer Pilates Now. I never actually thought that this was going to be something that I fell in love with. I was always like an intense workout person, like boxing, running, hiit workouts. At the start of this year, I was like, I want to try to do more kind of movement that I actually like. I found myself quite exhausted and tired after so many of these things. So my friend invited me to a Reformer Pilates class. Why did no one tell me that? It's like, just playing on the playground.

[Co-host]

Like those little machines that have springs.

[Gemma Spag]

On them that you bounce up and down on. Genuinely, so much fun. And I actually think that Performa Pilates.

[Co-host]

Also does a lot for your brain and a lot for your cognition because.

[Gemma Spag]

You have to be so focused on.

[Co-host]

Like, your body in space, and you.

[Gemma Spag]

Have to be so focused on, like, different movements. Listen, you would think that the entire Reformer Pilates community had sponsored me to say this, but genuinely, I'm just really, really lo it. And I'm really loving how it's like.

[Co-host]

Putting me in more attunement with the.

[Gemma Spag]

Rhythm of my body. And for people who are like, that's not a real workout. Please try a class. I have hurt in places that I did not know there were muscles in. Like, it is phenomenal. And now I'm going like, three times a week. All my previous exercise regiments out the window. So there we go. That is my who knows for this week. Okay, Reformer Pilates aside, let's get into it. It's time for this week's mantra.

[Co-host]

I trust myself to make the best decision with what I know.

[Gemma Spag]

Now, a big misconception or myth that.

[Co-host]

We tend to believe as humans is.

[Gemma Spag]

That there is one best decision for us to make at every single turn. And if we are to carefully observe and analyze the environment, all the context, all the information that we have we.

[Co-host]

Will be able to discern what that decision is.

[Gemma Spag]

And it's that decision that will unlock our dream life. To take that kind of further, that means that there is this perfect path through life almost, and we can obtain that perfect path by making the correct choice at every single point where we need to make a choice. Do you kind of see the impossibility of that? Because that's really what it is. It's impossible. It's improbable. Making the most perfect decision is not actually something that we can always do because we don't always have the information that hindsight kind of provides. What we tend to forget is that.

[Co-host]

There really is never a perfect choice.

[Gemma Spag]

Otherwise it wouldn't be a decision.

[Co-host]

Right.

[Gemma Spag]

Like the word decision means to resolve some kind of competition between two juxtaposed and perhaps equally good outcomes or options, or equally bad outcomes and options. I like to think about it this way. If you had to choose between two choices on a menu, and one choice was your favorite meal ever, and you know, it's cooked deliciously and it's only $10, and the other dish is a food that you're allergic to, surrounded by other foods you don't like, and it's out of your budget, the choice is actually quite easy. So it's not really a decision. Right.

[Co-host]

A decision only emerges when we feel.

[Gemma Spag]

Torn by two alternative outcomes have very similar pros and cons.

[Co-host]

And the reason we feel stuck in.

[Gemma Spag]

Those moments is that we don't want to regret not choosing the right one. What we're battling is perfectionism. Of course it is perfectionism. You probably already guessed that. But it's also our desire, maybe even.

[Co-host]

Our need, to be in control and to have some assurance that it's all.

[Gemma Spag]

Going to turn out okay, which is.

[Co-host]

Quite honestly, something that no one can really give us. You're just going to have to see for yourself.

[Gemma Spag]

And that's scary, but it's also really exciting when you think about it. Because if you knew the outcome of.

[Co-host]

Every single decision that you were ever going to make from now until the.

[Gemma Spag]

Day you died, what's the point of living your life genuinely? What is the actual point of waking up and going forward without a little bit of excitement and a little bit of surprise? But sometimes the possibility and grappling with the what ifs and the alternative hypotheticals, it's a scary, you know, mental environment to be in. And so we don't see it in the same way that I was just describing it. We don't see it as exciting.

[Co-host]

And in Our desire to make the perfect choice, we do end up sacrificing.

[Gemma Spag]

A few things, peace being one of them, action being the other.

[Co-host]

This specific kind of inaction that I'm talking about, it has its own name.

[Gemma Spag]

You've probably heard of it.

[Co-host]

It's called decision paralysis or choice overload.

[Gemma Spag]

And it explains what happens to our brain when we feel overlo overwhelmed by.

[Co-host]

All the possibilities and all of the potential what ifs.

[Gemma Spag]

What if it turned out this way.

[Co-host]

But what if it turned out that way?

[Gemma Spag]

You kind of see where I'm going with that. We would think naturally that having more.

[Co-host]

Options would make us feel more free and more liberated.

[Gemma Spag]

It seems that it actually does the opposite. I want to talk about one of my favorite studies ever of all time.

[Co-host]

And it's a study that was done on regret.

[Gemma Spag]

Regret is really at the heart of this whole question of how do I trust myself when I don't have full information? Because what we're really worried about is what if I make a decision and I regret it?

[Co-host]

So this study was published almost two decades ago, but the findings still ring so very true. Basically what this study found is that.

[Gemma Spag]

You are more likely to regret inaction than action. Time and time again. Across this research project, these researchers found.

[Co-host]

That those who they spoke to who.

[Gemma Spag]

Had the most regret in life, it.

[Co-host]

Didn'T come from one decision. It was not a singular decision or.

[Gemma Spag]

Even multiple wrong decisions that heightened their regret. It was regret from times when they had stayed stagnant because they were too scared to make a choice. They had stayed in the same place to avoid discomfort, stayed in the same job, stayed in the same relationship that.

[Co-host]

They knew wasn't right for them. The same city where there were bad.

[Gemma Spag]

People, where there weren't opportunities, where they felt lonely, and eventually they came to.

[Co-host]

Resent their past self, not for a.

[Gemma Spag]

Choice, but for a lack of choice, for a lack of decision making.

[Co-host]

This is what the misplaced desire for perfection in all decisions costs us.

[Gemma Spag]

It ends up costing us our happiness.

[Co-host]

So this is the first takeaway of the day. If you are stuck between doing and.

[Gemma Spag]

Not doing something, always choose to do it. And with that, I want you to know that choosing to live imperfectly, choosing to make a choice even if you're not sure if it's the right one, it's actually going to give you so.

[Co-host]

Many more experiences, so many more options.

[Gemma Spag]

To learn than you would obtain from just trying really hard to make one right choice.

[Co-host]

The second thing to note when we talk about making the best decision is.

[Gemma Spag]

That as humans research has shown that we are pretty bad at predicting what is going to make us happy or unhappy about the future due to something called effective forecasting, where we tend to think about our emotions as being more heightened or stronger in the future. So either we're going to be so much happier, incredibly happy, if everything works out the way we want it to, or we're going to be truly devastated if they don't. So really what we are, what we.

[Co-host]

Are stuck between, is two extremes. And that means that the stakes feel especially heightened.

[Gemma Spag]

What actually happens, though, when we make a decision, when we get to our future, regardless of what the outcome was, we actually tend to return to a pretty stable emotional state fairly quickly after good or bad things happen.

[Co-host]

So a study from Deakin University here in Australia found that actually we overestimate the intensity and the duration of how.

[Gemma Spag]

Long our happiness, but also how long.

[Co-host]

Our misery is going to last.

[Gemma Spag]

What we are really good at, though, is being resilient and adapting to our circumstances. We are highly adaptable creatures. So even if you may think that.

[Co-host]

It'S the wrong decision, most of the time you can still progress and find a way out.

[Gemma Spag]

It's also not like once you've made a decision, you are locked into that decision for life.

[Co-host]

You can change, change your mind. You are allowed to change your mind.

[Gemma Spag]

Also, I always pose this hypothetical to people who have found themselves regretting past.

[Co-host]

Actions or past choices.

[Gemma Spag]

I get so many messages from people saying, I'm so upset at myself for doing this. I feel like I've completely ruined my life. I feel like I can link everything back to that time five years ago. How do you know that that choice didn't save you from an even worse fate?

[Co-host]

How do you know that this actually.

[Gemma Spag]

Wasn'T the better outcome? You can't.

[Co-host]

And the chances are you're coping with.

[Gemma Spag]

It better than what a previous version of you would have thought you could cope with. So if we can't ever truly know what is going to make us happy or how things are going to work out, how do we still make the best decisions?

[Co-host]

Because it is important to still put.

[Gemma Spag]

Some thought into it. Well, what it comes down to is self trust. I love self trust.

[Co-host]

It is one of my favorite concepts.

[Gemma Spag]

But basically what it means is that.

[Co-host]

You trust your ability to interpret interpret.

[Gemma Spag]

The information you have now, but you.

[Co-host]

Also trust your future self to handle.

[Gemma Spag]

Whatever comes their way. You are not so focused on trying to make grand predictions.

[Co-host]

Instead, you go forward with the information you have currently available to you.

[Gemma Spag]

And you also go forward with an Attitude of forgiveness and grace. If it doesn't end up being what you wanted all along, you forgive yourself for not knowing. And with that you have greater acceptance for whatever is going to be. Each of us, I think, has a.

[Co-host]

Very ancient and deep intuition for what.

[Gemma Spag]

We know is right. You can kind of feel it in your body.

[Co-host]

You can feel it by where your.

[Gemma Spag]

Thoughts keep returning to by your emotions. But we can become detached from that in modern society.

[Co-host]

So to get our way back to trust and trusting our intuition, I do think it's a process of trial and error.

[Gemma Spag]

Letting yourself be led by your gut instinct and just seeing whether it's right and self correcting, going back and learning.

[Co-host]

Okay, what reactions did I listen to that I maybe shouldn't have listened to?

[Gemma Spag]

What reactions were happening to oppose those reactions that are actually maybe my gut instinct. If that makes sense. You want to also start asking, you.

[Co-host]

Know, can I trust the little voice in my head?

[Gemma Spag]

Is that voice my intuition or is it my anxiety when I listen to it and I follow its directive, Do I end up happier or not?

[Co-host]

Self trust is also built on resilience.

[Gemma Spag]

And trying over even when it didn't go right the first time.

[Co-host]

You know, if we were defined by.

[Gemma Spag]

One failure, one poor choice, one bad decision, and that was where you stayed, almost all of the world would still be where they were when they were teenagers, afraid to never try again. But we do. We face failure, we face bad decisions and we overcome them. And people go on to create, to.

[Co-host]

See, to do amazing things. And they learn how to better judge.

[Gemma Spag]

What'S right for them and also trust that they'll be capable anyway even if they fail. That is why I always say that.

[Co-host]

The opposite of decision anxiety or anxiety.

[Gemma Spag]

In general, it's not calm, it's not peace, it's trust. Knowing that whatever happens, you are going to be okay, you'll manage, you'll find your way through. You are going to make the most of your situation. We've already talked so much about embracing the wisdom we already hold, trusting our intuition to letting go of the pressure to make the perfect decision. This mantra is all about showing up with confidence, accepting that we are doing our best with what we know right now, and knowing that growth comes from trusting the process as well as ourselves, even when the path feels uncertain. So, coming up up, let's get personal. I'm going to share some moments when trusting myself felt really, really difficult and the lessons I've learned from leaning into uncertainty and how this mantra has shaped the way I make choices today. Stay Tuned after this brief pause. Yeah, sure thing. Hey, you sold that car yet?

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[Gemma Spag]

Oh, I thought you were selling to that guy.

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The guy who wanted to pay me in foreign currency, no interest over 36 months. Yeah, no. Carvana gave me an offer in minutes, picked it up and paid me on the spot. It was so convenient.

[Gemma Spag]

Just like that.

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[Gemma Spag]

No hassle.

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None.

[Gemma Spag]

That is super convenient. Sell your car to Carvana and swap.

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[Gemma Spag]

Now that we've looked at the meaning.

[Co-host]

Behind today's mantra, it's time to get personal with you guys and share some.

[Gemma Spag]

Of my own insights and reflections about this phrase.

[Co-host]

I trust myself to make the best decision with what I know. Now.

[Gemma Spag]

In thinking about this mantra and in, you know, bringing it forward into my week, I. It really put me into a bit.

[Co-host]

Of a reflective place.

[Gemma Spag]

Maybe not an entirely positive reflective place of just thinking back on decisions that I made that I regret and. And why they were kind of actually important to get me where I am today. In particular, I kept coming back to this one period where I really felt like I'd made the wrong decision and to be completely vulnerable. It was about a relationship. I really had a lot of regrets.

[Co-host]

At the time about this relationship that I was in. And I'm not gonna go into too.

[Gemma Spag]

Much detail, but it was one of those situations where, like, my friends were all saying to me, this is a really bad decision. Like, you should not be with this person. This person is not good for you. They don't elevate your life. We don't like him. And I was like, no, I most certainly, absolutely have to be with this person. The result of being with that person was actually a lot of bridges were burnt and I lost a lot of relationships because people quite honestly were like, this guy is just not great and we don't want to be around him. Which means sometimes we can't be around you for a long time. When I first moved to Sydney, and, you know, I moved to Sydney almost as a reaction to the end of that relationship, I really regretted it. And I was like, what if I'd said no to that first date? What if I listened to all my friends when I had the chance to listen? And it's only recently that I've been like, okay, no, I didn't know how this was gonna turn out. I trusted my intuition or what I thought was my intuition at the time and it led me astray. But actually that wrong decision has led me to a lot of correct decisions.

[Co-host]

And it's led me into a life.

[Gemma Spag]

That I can't help but be grateful for.

[Co-host]

So it's this strange thing where I.

[Gemma Spag]

Kind of have to look back and say, well, I' wouldn't have this life I have right now without this bad choice. So maybe the bad choice wasn't a terrible one after all. I want to talk about another situation where I trusted my instinct and it was correct.

[Co-host]

And this was when it came to.

[Gemma Spag]

Quitting my full time job. Stepping into that abyss and stepping into that, you know, universe of being self employed is very terrifying, very scary. But then I was also reminded of another situation where I trusted my instincts and it was right, my instinct was correct. And that was when it came to choosing to quit my full time job. So back then, I think like 2022, I was working full time in a corporate role as a management consultant and the podcast was getting big. I just wanted more space to do more creative projects. I wanted more time to travel. I didn't want to be bound my annual leave requests. And I remember saying to my mom, like, I actually think I can do this.

[Co-host]

And saying to my family and my.

[Gemma Spag]

Friends, like, this is the thing that I'm gonna be doing. Like, I really think that this is what's right. And my mom in particular, God bless her, I love her so much. But I could just see that she was very scared for me. She was very, very scared. She's an economist, she's very financially responsible. And the idea of her daughter, who she was, you know, had taught how to make a savings account and had taught the correct way into the corporate life and putting aside your paycheck and, you know, moving up the ladder, she was no longer doing those things and I think she was really, really scared. And there was again a lot of voices, external voices, saying, just wait a little bit longer, just be a little bit more certain, be a little bit more sure. And I took the leap of faith anyways. I stepped into this abyss of being self employed. And at the time I didn't know if it was the Right decision. I remember having quite a few days of being like, I wish there was someone who could just tell me that this was correct. And I was trying to find all these people online or mentors who had done something similar almost just to reassure me, like, this is okay. Like, yes, I made it. You can, too. And you know what? At the end of the day, there was no one who had the same story as me, no one who was going to be able to say yes. These are the specific steps that made it work out for me because we were on a different path. I just had to trust in my ability. And I found a lot of solace as well in knowing, okay, I can go back. I've set myself up well. I've got my degree. I've had this work experience, like, it's not the end of the world. No decision is permanent. Obviously, that ended up working out really, really well. And I speak about that example in.

[Co-host]

Relation to the example with my terrible.

[Gemma Spag]

Terrible relationship, because it really marked, like.

[Co-host]

A turning point for me and a real shifting point from.

[Gemma Spag]

From not being able to trust myself, not feeling very capable, feeling like I didn't know what was right for my life, to suddenly making this decision all on my own. That really paid off based on my gut instinct. And this journey. And really, it is. It's a journey. And trusting myself to make good decisions and to be confident has been reflected in so many other, smaller parts of my life. You know, I don't hesitate now to choose a restaurant because if I hate it, like, I'll just leave. I don't hesitate to start things because I'm worried they'll be bad. If they're bad, that's fine.

[Co-host]

At least I started them.

[Gemma Spag]

I can just rewrite them. I can just try again. I'm not scared to say no to opportunities when I'm too busy or too stressed, because I trust that I could make those opportunities perhaps happen again or.

[Co-host]

By taking time to slow down, better.

[Gemma Spag]

Things will come to me and for me. So it's not just about specific decisions. Trusting yourself cannot just be pulled out of the drawer and dusted off for the big choices. It needs to be part of your broader everyday life. You know, this element of surrendering, like, I'm gonna surrender to the fact that I cannot ever be 100% certain. But I can be 100% certain in myself and in. In my confidence, even when I don't feel confident and in this future version of me, who is going to be just as invested in creating a good life and just as invested in something good happening as the me right now. So I'm going to put my faith in them. Now I would like to share our deep thought of the day. I love this deep thought. This one was the exact perfect quote that I could find for this. Here it is.

[Co-host]

Do the best you can until you know better.

[Gemma Spag]

Then when you know better, do better. That quote is from Maya Angelou. The reason I love this quote is because it kind of shows mistakes, missteps, whatever you want to call them as learning opportunities. You know every single piece of information, every single piece of effort that you put towards something you're still doing. Even if it's not what is best in the long run, it's what is best right now. And these small, imperfect moments, they create the next platform almost for you to then push yourself up from. It's okay to say, yeah, I know better than I knew back then. And in that way you accept accountability. You accept accountability for the times you.

[Co-host]

Didn'T know as well as you know now. And you show appreciation for the path.

[Gemma Spag]

That has gotten you to where you are. And I think about that in that example, it's kind of difficult, right? If you're happy with where you are today, you kind of have a lot to be grateful for in terms of past mistakes that you may have regretted. Now I'd like to take a few.

[Co-host]

Moments to pause and really sit with this mantra.

[Gemma Spag]

In just a moment, you'll hear a custom music track created to give you space to absorb today's insights and consider.

[Co-host]

How you might bring this mantra into your week and maybe even beyond.

[Gemma Spag]

If this practice isn't your style, if it doesn't resonate with you, you can.

[Co-host]

Just feel free to skip ahead around a minute. But as you settle in, keep our mantra in mind.

[Gemma Spag]

I trust myself to make the best.

[Co-host]

Decisions with what I know.

[Gemma Spag]

Now. Let it guide your thoughts as the music plays and give yourself a moment.

[Co-host]

To reflect and connect with this mantra and what it means to you.

[Gemma Spag]

You. Up next, we're going to talk about how to put these insights into real action and bring this mantra to life. I'll share some journal prompts in our weekly challenge. Stick around for more after this quick break. You don't wake up dreaming of McDonald's fries.

[Carvana Representative]

You wake up dreaming of McDonald's hash browns.

[Gemma Spag]

McDonald's breakfast comes first. Ba ba ba ba ba.

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[Carissa]

Are you getting the rest you need? I'm Carissa, the host of sleepwave, a meditation and story podcast that makes sleep and relaxation easy with soothing meditation and nostalgic stories. Each episode of sleepwave is crafted to help busy minds slow down so you can beat insomnia and wake up feeling well rested tomorrow. Each night I'll guide you to sleep with beautiful visualizations and calming journeys that make meditation easy even if you've never tried it before. Try one of my favorite episodes, Get Sleepy in the Hawaiian Rainforest where I'll lead you through using your imagination to enjoy a lush tropical vacation without ever leaving your bedroom. Soon, bedtime will be your favorite part of the day. You can discover sleepwave on all major podcast platforms. Simply search sleepwave Sleep Meditations and hit follow so you can easily find the show later tonight. Sweet dreams.

[Gemma Spag]

Welcome back. Let's explore how to apply this week's.

[Co-host]

Mantra in a meaningful way in your.

[Gemma Spag]

Everyday life, starting with our journal practice. Now, if you don't have your journal.

[Co-host]

With you, don't worry.

[Gemma Spag]

You can always take this time to just kind of think through your answers, maybe even pause this episode between questions. But here are our three prompts to help you reflect and gain a little bit more clarity with this mantra. First, when faced with a decision, do you tend to rely more on logic.

[Co-host]

Intuition or external advice?

[Gemma Spag]

Reflect on how this impacts your confidence in your choices. Next, are there any decisions from your.

[Co-host]

Past that you regret? How can you reframe them as moments where you did your best with the.

[Gemma Spag]

Information that you had at the time and finally write about a time when.

[Co-host]

Trusting yourself led to a positive outcome.

[Gemma Spag]

What can you learn from that experience.

[Co-host]

To apply to future decisions?

[Gemma Spag]

Okay, I've given you a lot to think about, but there's obviously more in store every week. I also like to give you a challenge that features our mantra. It's really about taking this whole thing to another level so that you can put what we talk about into tangible.

[Co-host]

Actionable steps for yourself.

[Gemma Spag]

I also love to do some check ins so that we can hold ourselves accountable so you can reach out to me at Mantra Open Mind to let.

[Co-host]

Me know how the challenge is going.

[Gemma Spag]

And next week we obviously do a recap on how things went and I.

[Co-host]

Might even share some personal stories with your permission of course, to help encourage others to participate in the challenge in the future.

[Gemma Spag]

This is of course also a two way street, so I'll make sure to let you know how things are going on my end as well. So let's talk about last week's challenge. As a reminder, our mantra from last week was I nurture relationships that enrich my life. I took this to the next level. Not gonna lie, I hadn't seen one of my really, really dear, amazing friends from college for, you know, almost a year. And so for the long weekend I booked a flight down to Tasmania where she lives. And we just had the most beautiful, remarkable, wonderful time. Like we saw an albino stag, we picked blackberries, we watched hairspray, and we did leave with a couple tears in our eyes. But I feel better for it. And I'm so happy that I stopped making excuses for not seeing my friend. You know what I mean? Like I feel like there are so many excuses and perhaps even a bit of doubts, like I haven't seen them for a while.

[Co-host]

Going to be different.

[Gemma Spag]

Is it going to be weird? Is it going to take up too much mental energy? Not at all. So this is your reminder. If you want to nurture relationships that enrich your life, please give your friend a call, maybe even book a visit, book a trip with them. I want to share some DMS from listeners that we got from last week's episode. This one's from Tarek. What are some tips for maintaining long distance friendships when in person time isn't an option? I'm so glad you asked this question because is I think the majority of my really close friends now live overseas or like in another state in Australia. And Australia is a mighty big place so they may as well live in another country. My biggest tips is that I want you to make weekly communication a priority.

[Co-host]

So the same way that you would.

[Gemma Spag]

Schedule a weekly dinner, you might see them once a week in person when you were living nearby. I want you to make sure that you continue to create rituals so that they are still in your life. So this doesn't need to be like a big in depth phone call. Sometimes we find it hard to schedule those. One ritual that I have with my.

[Co-host]

Friends is that on a Sunday we.

[Gemma Spag]

All send five photos from our week and we explain like what's happened during the week.

[Co-host]

Having a close friend story on Instagram as well.

[Gemma Spag]

One of my friends who just moved to London, she has that but she only has like her nearest dearest friends and she posts on it like it's a diary. I feel like we don't use social media enough to really connect. Like, of course, we message each other and we send memes and we send DMs, but there are so many little functions like that that are incredible. Some other tips slash things that I've seen people doing very, like, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants esque. I have some friends who she shares, like, a journal that she sends back.

[Co-host]

And forth between her three sisters.

[Gemma Spag]

One of them lives in the U.S.

[Co-host]

One of them lives in Poland randomly, and one of them lives in Australia.

[Gemma Spag]

And so they each write journal entries about what they've been doing for the week, and then they send it to the next person. So there are so many little genius ways. But my biggest tip is to make sure you bring ritual into how you maintain those friendships. This next message was from Hannah. The most recent episode of Mantra helped.

[Co-host]

Me realize that I've been holding onto.

[Gemma Spag]

One particular friendship out of obligation rather than genuine connection. Hearing you talk about this really helped me let go of the guilt that makes me really, really happy. Every time I get messages like that, I feel incredibly purposeful, like maybe I'm not just talking into a void. So, Hannah, I'm really proud of you. I also know that's very, very difficult, and I'm very proud of you for not just letting it fizzle either. It's very easy to just say, I'm gonna ice this person out. But I am very, very, very proud of you for taking direct action on that. I always love hearing from you all, so thank you so much for those DMs. I wish I could answer all of them. The episode would be a little bit.

[Co-host]

Too long for you to be interested.

[Gemma Spag]

But now it's time for this week's challenge. This week, I want you to identify.

[Co-host]

One decision, big or small, that you.

[Gemma Spag]

Have been overthinking or avoiding. Set aside 5 minutes to reflect on.

[Co-host]

The facts that you know about this decision.

[Gemma Spag]

Maybe even make a very logical pro cons list. Maybe this is something you've been afraid.

[Co-host]

To say out loud.

[Gemma Spag]

Maybe something that you've been afraid to.

[Co-host]

Admit to yourself that's been influencing your decision making. Maybe it's something that you know you.

[Gemma Spag]

Really want to do, but you feel like not having all the information is holding you back. So spend time with all the information that you currently have and then try and make the decision.

[Co-host]

Trust your instincts. Maybe even take a few minutes to.

[Gemma Spag]

Meditate on it in silence, but make the decision. I want you to really remember that study we referenced all the way at the top of the episode. You are more likely to regret inaction over hours action. As a reminder, reach out to me.

[Co-host]

At Mantra openmind to share how this.

[Gemma Spag]

Challenge is working for you. I know this is going to be a bit of a tough one because there are probably a lot of mental blocks in the way, but please tell me what ends up happening. Whether it does end up pushing some of those mental blockades aside for you, it definitely will for me. I already know what situation I need to have a good think about this week, and I'm going to hold myself accountable. We'll talk about it on next week's episode, but I promise to trust my instincts. I hope you trust yours as well. All right, as we wrap up this week's episode, I want to share a few final thoughts about this Mantra. I trust myself to make the best decision with what I know. Now, let's just talk about one point in particular, and that point is you cannot ever make the perfect decision. The fact that it's a decision shows that actually, actually there are lots of different alternatives that might make you happy. The most important thing is that you just choose to make one, big or small. And I think that the more you see that the world doesn't crumble at one poor choice, the more trusting yourself doesn't just become reserved for the big moments, but it's something that you can imbue into your everyday life as you move through this world week, Please remember, trusting yourself is a practice, not a destination. And each decision that you make with that confidence, even when the outcome is uncertain, it does genuinely strengthen your ability to navigate your life with grace, but also resilience. Trust that you're doing your best with what you know, and that's always been enough. Mantra is hosted by me, Gemma Spag, and is an Open Mind original. Powered by Pave Studios, this episode was brought to life by the Mantra team. Max Cutler, Kristen Acevedo, Ron Shapiro, Stacy Warrenker, Sarah Carroll and Paul Liebeskind. Thank you for listening.