THE HEAD, HEART,
GUT WORKBOOK
NLP CONFIDENCE
& SELF ESTEEM
BREAKTHROUGH
THE HEAD, HEART, GUT WORKBOOK
Procrastination or delaying decisions can be a major source of lost time, lost
opportunities and increased anxiety/stress. The reason we procrastinate will
vary from person to person but procrastination usually stems from a fear of
making the 'wrong' choice.
However, the truth is that there's no such thing as a 'right' decision and every
decision that we make will have some benefit - even if it’s just learning to avoid a
similar choice next time round. The habit of making decisions helps to build
resilience. If we avoid committing to something, then this is a decision in itself,
which actually fuels a lack of self-confidence. Taking on challenges is the key to
building self-confidence, and making decisions helps to us feel more confident
and competent, which in turn helps us builds a sense of agency in the world.
The Head, Heart, Gut Technique is a simple strategy that we can use to help us
develop confidence in our decision-making abilities.
The following exercise will give you a chance to practise using this technique. Take
a few minutes to consider a decision you’d like to make, a goal that you would like
to pursue or a personal situation you're experiencing. Now work through each of
the exercises below to begin practising listening to your head, heart and gut (it may
help you to close your eyes for this exercise).
YOUR HEAD - your head generally thinks about a decision, goal or situation in a
logical manner. We use our heads to weigh up the pros and cons and evaluate
them. Many people make decisions by creating a list of potential 'pros and cons'.
Take a few minutes and focus your attention on your forehead. What is your head
telling you about this decision, goal or situation?
NOTES:
THE HEAD, HEART, GUT WORKBOOK
YOUR HEART - Our hearts consider decisions, goals or situations based on our
emotions. The heart is generally passionate and irrational! Take a few minutes
and focus your attention on your heart. What is your heart telling you about this
decision, goal or situation?
NOTES:
YOUR GUT - Our gut is where our intuition lives. We have all experienced that
feeling in our guts when something just doesn't feel 'right'. The gut doesn't offer
much explanation when compared to our head or our heart. Take a few minutes
to focus your attention on your gut. What is your gut telling you about this decision,
goal or situation?
NOTES:
THE HEAD, HEART, GUT WORKBOOK
NOTES:
Qu1) Having experienced what your head, heart and gut are telling you in
relation to this choice, goal or situation, what decision can you now make?
My head tells me the pros and cons of "relocation". It tells you only the logical steps. It creates anxiety and
fear of the "unknown" and "uncertainty".
Your Heart is emotional, you need to follow it. It tells you you are "feeling good" about that decision! You feel
attracted to it.
Your gut tells you that you need to move fast! You have to seize the opportunity. It doesn't tell you the steps,
but it tells you that "yes" you need to make this decision and you will regret it if you don't do so FAST!
Qu2) What's the first action step you must take?
You take the logical steps, which is the Language Barrier. That would s