Welcome to the ninth episode of Minisode Monday! We keep finding so many useful tactics and tips that we want to share with you, but they don't fit into the format of a regular show -- hence, Minisode Monday. If You're so Smart, Why Aren't You Happy? author and recent guest Raj Raghunathan joins us to talk about when we should go with our gut instinct to make a decision and when we should turn it over to our mind. The Cheat Sheet: Many smart and successful people think you can arrive at a better solution to any challenge or problem faced by thinking a little more about it. This leads to what Raj calls the sin of "mind addiction." When we succumb to this mind addiction, we tend to overanalyze and get into analysis paralysis -- unable to remove ourselves from a self-feeding loop that actually stops us from making a decision at all (or, in the best case, an inferior decision). Our instinct -- our gut -- packs a lot more information than we give it credit for. Evolution has given us this intrinsic command center we often ignore in favor of waiting for further, external information that may or may not exist. This isn't to say all decisions should unquestioningly be handled by the gut. Stock market investing, for instance, is a job for the brain. But making a spreadsheet to weigh the pros and cons of dating one person over another is being overanalytical of a job best handled by the gut. What is the eventual benefit you seek? Is it an emotional/experiential one, or is it a functional/practical/utilitarian one? If it's the former, go with your gut. If it's the latter, it may be worth letting your mind give it more careful thought. Do you need to justify your choice to other people? It's probably a job for your mind. If it's something for which you are only accountable to yourself, the gut may be your better option. To learn more about making decisions with the right part of your body, take the Art of Charm Challenge by clicking here, or text CHARMED to 33444. Let us know about how you put today's Minisode Monday into practice! Leave a comment below, tweet with @TheArtofCharm in your response, or write to Jordan directly: [email protected] (he reads everything)! Show notes at http://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/minisode-monday-9-gut-decision-vs-making-up-your-mind/ HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! If you dig the show, please subscribe in iTunes and write us a review! This is what helps us stand out from the crowd and help people find the credible advice they need. Review the show in iTunes! We rely on it! http://www.theartofcharm.com/mobilereview Stay Charming!

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