Therapy isn’t all deep, dark, and murky… sometimes it’s delightfully pragmatic.

Let’s be real—therapy isn’t just about excavating the shame-filled caverns of your soul or untangling your childhood traumas while I nod sagely. Sometimes, it’s about the incredibly tricky business of making practical, everyday decisions without losing your sanity.

Recently, I finished reading Essentialism by Greg McKeown, and it’s been a real eye-opener. McKeown challenges us to ask a simple yet profound question when faced with a choice: Is this the absolute best use of my time, energy, and resources? Not “Could I do it?” or “Should I do it?” but “Is this essential to the life I truly want to live?”

This idea cuts through the noise, doesn’t it? It gives you permission to pause, to reflect, and—most importantly—to say “No” to the things that don’t align with your core values or long-term vision.

In therapy, I often work with clients to make those tough calls:

– Do I stay in a job that pays the bills but drains my soul?

– Do I finally have that difficult conversation I’ve been avoiding for years?

– Do I let go of relationships, habits, or even opportunities that no longer serve me?

It’s not always easy, and that’s why having someone to guide you through the process—whether it’s a therapist, a trusted friend, or a mentor—can make all the difference.

So, if you’re sitting on the fence about a big decision, consider this: What would happen if you stripped away the clutter, the “maybes,” and the guilt? What if you gave yourself the gift of choosing what truly matters? As in, how can you make the difficult decision to sacrifice the “trivial many” for the “vital few”, as McKeown says. How can you choose only what will help you contribute to your purpose in the best possible way?

Three questions to ask yourself:

1. What is truly essential to the life I want to create?

2. If I say “yes” to this, what am I saying “no” to?

3. Do I actually not know what to do? Or do I know what to do, but I’m afraid to do it?

Let me know how you go!