The Six Modes of DecisionMaking

ByRichardBarrett

Theprocessofdecisionmaking
Therearefourstagesinvolvedindecisionmakingdatagathering,information processing,meaningmaking,anddecisionmaking,andthreepossibleoutcomesa reaction,aresponseorguidancethatleadsusintoaprocessofreflection.Thefour stagesandthreeresponsesareshowndiagrammaticallyinFigure1,togetherwithsix modesofdecisionmaking.

Figure1Thefourstagesofdecisionmakingthreeresponsesandsixmodesofdecision making

Stage1:Datagathering
Wegatherdatafromourexternalenvironmentthroughoursenses;oureyes,ears, nose,mouth,andskin(seeing,hearing,smelling,tasting,andfeeling).Theinformation wegathercomesfromourphysicalenvironmentandarrivesatthesenseorgansofour physicalbodiesaselectromagneticwavesofinformation.Oureyesdontseecolours; theysensedifferentfrequenciesoflightvibration.Ourearsdonthearsounds;they 1|P a g e

sensedifferentfrequenciesofsoundvibration,etc.Thesemultiplestreamsofdatain theformofenergyquantaaresenttothebrainforprocessing.

Stage2:Informationprocessing
Thebrainassemblesandsynthesizesthedatafromthefivesensesintoinformation patternsthatcanberecognizedbythemind.Whatwesee,hear,smell,taste,orfeelis notthedatathatispouringinthroughoursenses,northeinformationpatterns producedbythebrain,butthemindsabstractionofthisinformation.Themindgives formtotheinformationpatterns.

Stage3:Meaningmaking
Theinformationpatternproducedbythebrainisusedbythebodymind,egomind, andsoulmind,tosearchforamemory(body,egoorsoulmemory)thatcontainsa similarpattern.Whenasimilarpatternisfound,meaningisascribedtothesituation, andareaction,response,orguidanceleadingtoreflectionisinitiated. Iftherearenomatchingmemoriesthenthemindcarriesoutafuzzysearchinthe egomindtofindapatternthathassimilarcharacteristics(butnotpreciselythesame) astheonecurrentlybeingexperienced.Whenapatternisfound,weuselogic(linksto otherpatternsthatweholdinourmind)toassignameaningtothesituation. Sincethesenseorgansaredirectlylinkedtothebrain,whichitselfispartofthebody, theinformationpackagesarefirstrespondedtobythebodymindactionprecedes thought;thenbytheegomindactionprecedesorfollowsthought;and,thenbythe soulmindactionfollowsthought,asshowninFigure2.

Figure2Progressioninmeaningmaking

Stage4:Decisionmaking
Oncemeaningmakinghasbeendone,thebodymindwillreacttoasituationbasedon instincts;theegomindwillreactorrespondtoasituationbasedonsubconscious beliefsorconsciousbeliefs,andthesoulmindwillreflectontheintuitiveor inspirationalguidanceitisreceivingandthenaffirmorreorientitsposition. 2|P a g e

Thus,ashumanbeingswehavethreemindsmakingdecisionsaboutgettingourneeds met;wehaveatwosetsofbodyneeds(internalstabilityandexternalequilibrium), sevenlevelsofego/soulneeds(internalstabilityoftheegoandsoulmind);andsix waysinwhichwemakedecisions.SeeTable1.

LevelsofConsciousness 7 6 Service Makinga difference Internal cohesion Transformation Selfesteem Relationships Survival
1

Egomind

Soulmind

Inspiration Intuition

5 4 3 2 1 Bodymind

Values

Conscious beliefs Subconscious beliefs Instincts

Table1Modesofdecisionmakingandlevelsofconsciousness

Sixmodesofdecisionmaking
Thesixmodesofdecisionmakingaredescribedindetailinthefollowingparagraphs.

Instinctbaseddecisionmaking
Instinctbaseddecisionmakingtakesplaceattheatomic/cellularlevel,becausethe actionsthatarisearebasedonlearnedDNAresponses,principallyassociatedwith issuesofsurvival.Forexample,babiesinstinctivelyknowhowtosuckle;howtocry whentheirneedsarenotbeingmet;andhowtosmilesotheycangettheattention theyneed.Noonetaughtthemhowtodothis.ItisencodedintheirDNA. Inadultlife,instinctbaseddecisionmakingkicksintohelpussurviveandavoid dangeroussituations.Itisalsoattherootofthefightorflightresponsecommontoall animals.Incertainsituations,ourinstinctsmaycauseustoputourlifeatriskinorder tothesavethelifeofanother.Instinctsaretheprincipalmodeofdecisionmaking foundinallcreatures. Themainfeaturesofinstinctbaseddecisionmakingare: Actionsalwaysprecedethoughtthereisnopauseforreflectionbetween makingmeaningofasituation,anddecisionmaking.

In this table I have specifically separated out the physiological needs of the body from the seven levels of consciousness model. In the original derivation of the model, I included these needs at the survival level of consciousness.
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Thedecisionsthataremadearealwaysbasedonpastexperienceswhat ourspecieshistoryhastaughtusabouthowtosurviveandkeepsafe.These instructionsareencodedinthecellularmemoryofourDNA. Wearenotconsciouslyincontrolofourwords,actionsandbehaviours. Theyareincontrolofus.

Instinctbaseddecisionisafacultyofthebodymind.Thebodymindiswherewekeep theinstitutionalisedDNAmemoriesthatkeepourphysicalbodysafeandsecure.

Subconsciousbeliefbaseddecisionmaking
Insubconsciousbeliefbaseddecisionmakingwealsoreacttowhatishappeninginour worldwithoutreflection,butonthebasisofpersonalmemoriesratherthanthe institutionalisedmemoriesofourcellular(DNA).Inthismodeofdecisionmakingaction alsoprecedesthought.Theactionisoftenaccompaniedbythereleaseofanemotional charge. Youknowwhensubconsciousfearbasedbeliefsaredominatingyourdecisionmaking ifyoufeelimpatient,frustrated,upsetorangry.Wheneveryouexperiencesuch feelings,youaredealingwithsomeunmetegodeficiencyneedsthathaveneverbeen resolved.Yourreactionsandemotionsarebeingtriggeredbyapresentmoment situationthatismakingyourecallamemoryaboutanunresolvedsituationfromthe pastwhenyoufailedtogetyourneedsmet. Whenyouexperiencepositivelychargedemotionssuchasjoy,andhappiness,youare rememberingmomentsfromyourpastwhichsupportedyouinmeetingyour deficiencyneeds.Forexample,apictureofsomeoneyouhavenotseeninalongwhile orthesoundoftheirvoice,mayunleashtearsofjoyandhappiness.Yourreactionsand emotionsarebeingtriggeredbyapresentmomentsituationthatismakingyourecalla positivememoryfromthepast. Themainfeaturesofsubconsciousbeliefbaseddecisionmakingare: Actionsalwaysprecedethoughtthereisnogapforreflectionbetween makingmeaningoutofthesituationandthedecisionmakingthat precipitatesanaction. Thedecisionsthataremadearealwaysbasedonpastexperienceswhat yourpersonalhistoryhastaughtyouaboutmaintaininginternalstabilityand externalequilibriumintheframeworkofexistenceofyourchildhood.This historyisstoredinourpersonalmemory. Wearenotincontrolofouractionsandbehaviours.Inthismodeof decisionmakingtheonlywaywecangetbackintoconsciouscontrolofyour actionsiseithertoreleaseorbottleupyouremotions.Releasinghelpsusto returntorationality.Bottlingupbuildsuppressure. 4|P a g e

Itisverypersonal.Othersarenotconsultedtohelpusenhanceour meaningmakingandgivesupportinourdecisionmaking.

Subconsciousfearbaseddecisionmakingoccursatthefirstthreelevelspersonal consciousnessandisalwaysaboutattemptingtomeetouregosperceiveddeficiency needs.

Consciousbeliefbaseddecisionmaking
Ifwewanttomakerationaldecisions,wehavetoleavebehindsubconsciousbelief baseddecisionmakingandshifttoconsciousbeliefbaseddecisionmaking.Wehaveto insertapausebetweentheeventandourresponsetoit.Thepauseallowsustimefor reflectionsowecanuselogictounderstandwhatishappening,andmakeachoice abouthowtorespond.Byinsertingapause,wealsohavetimetodiscussthesituation withothersandgetadviceaboutthebestwaytomeetourneeds. Themainfeaturesofconsciousbeliefbaseddecisionmakingare: Thoughtprecedesactionweinsertapausebetweenaneventandour responsetoitsowecanuselogicandgetadviceinordertodeterminethe bestwayofmeetingourneeds. Thedecisionsthataremadearebasedonpastexperiencesandwhatyour personalhistoryhastaughtyouaboutmaintaininginternalstabilityand externalequilibriuminyourchildhoodandadulthood.Wemakedecisions basedonwhatwebelieveweknow. Weareincontrolofouractionandbehaviours. Wecanconsultwithotherstosupportandenhanceourdecisionmaking.

Consciousbeliefbaseddecisionmakinghasonethingincommonwithsubconscious beliefbaseddecisionmaking:itusesinformationfromthepast(beliefsaboutwhatwe thinkweknow)tomakedecisionsaboutthefuture.Becauseofthis,thefuturewe createisusuallyonlyanincrementalimprovementonthepast.

Valuesbaseddecisionmaking
Theshiftfromconsciousbeliefbaseddecisionmakingtovaluesbaseddecisionmaking isnoteasy.Wehavetoindividuate(establishourselvesatthetransformationlevelof consciousness),anddevelopaselfauthoringmindbeforewecanmakethisleap:we needtobecomeviableandindependentinourframeworkofexistencebeforevalues baseddecisionmakingisfullyandnaturallyavailabletous. Thereasonwhytheshiftfrombeliefbaseddecisionmakingtovaluesbaseddecision makingrequiresindividuationisbecausepriortoindividuationwemakemeaningof ourworldthroughourbeliefsandmostofthesebeliefshavetodowithourpersonal andculturalupbringing.Theprocessofindividuationinvolvesexaminingthesebeliefs 5|P a g e

andlettinggooftheonesthatdontserveus.Asweletgoofthesebeliefs,wedevelop anewguidancesystembasedonourdeeplyheldvalues.Valuesaretheuniversal guidancesystemofthesoul.Whenyoushifttovaluesbaseddecisionmaking,youcan effectivelythrowawayyourrulebooks.Everydecisionyoumakeissourcedbywhatis deeplymeaningfultoyou. Valuesbaseddecisionmakingallowsustocreateafuturethatresonatesdeeplywith whowereallyare.Itcreatestheconditionsthatallowauthenticityandintegrityto flourish.Thatisnottosaythereisnoplaceforconsciousbeliefbaseddecisionmaking basedorlogicandrationalthinking.Thereis.However,allthecriticaldecisionswe needtomakeshouldpassthevaluestest. Themainfeaturesofvaluesbaseddecisionmakingare: Thoughtprecedesactionwereflectonthevaluesthatwebelievewill allowustogetourneedsmetandmakedecisionsaccordingly. Thedecisionsthataremadearenotbasedonpastexperiences.Theyare basedonthefuturewewanttocreate. Weareincontrolofouractionandbehaviours. Wecanconsultwithotherstosupportandenhanceourdecisionmaking.

Wemakevaluesbaseddecisionssothatweconsciouslycreatethefuturewewantto experience.Forexample,ifwevaluetrust,thenweshouldmakedecisionsthatallow ustodisplaytrust.Ifwevalueaccountability,thenwemakedecisionsthatallowusto displayaccountability.

Intuitionbaseddecisionmaking
Theshiftfromvaluesbaseddecisionmakingtointuitionbaseddecisionmaking developsovertimeoncethecentreofgravityofyourconsciousnesshasshiftedfrom youregotoyoursoul.Intuitionarisesfromthedeepeningofyourconnectiontoyour soul.Thisisoneoftheattributesofaselftransformingmind.Wereachthislevelof consciousnessafterwehavecompletedourowninternalcohesion,andhavebecomea selfactualizedindividual.Intuitionallowsustoaccessourowndeeperintelligence,and thecollectiveintelligenceofawidergroup. Theprincipalcharacteristicsofintuitionbaseddecisionmakingareasfollows: Awarenessisexpandedthroughashiftinoursenseof identity/consciousness. Judgmentissuspended:nomeaningmakingtakesplace,either subconsciouslyorconsciously. Themindisempty:thoughts,beliefsandagendasaresuspended.

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Themindisfreetomakeadeepdiveintothemindspaceofthecollective unconscious,andemergewithadeepsenseofknowing. Thethoughtsthatarisereflectwisdomandareinalignmentwithyourmost deeplyheldvalues.

Inintuitionbaseddecisionmakingthereisnoconsciousorsubconsciousattemptat makingmeaning;and,thereisnofocusonthepastorthefuture.Youacceptwhatis, withoutjudgment.Theintuitivedecisionarisesoutofyourpresenceinthecurrent moment.Beliefsleadtodecisionsbasedonpastexperiences.Valuesleadusto decisionsbasedonthepositivefeelingswewanttoexperiencenowandinthefuture. Whenwearetotallypresenttoasituationwithoutjudgment,wecreatetheconditions thatallowourmindstotapintothecollectivemindspace,andourintuitioninformsus ofwhatwantsorneedstoemerge.ThisisthebasisoftheUTheoryusedforcollective decisionmaking,describedbySenge,Scharmer,JaworskiandFlowersinPresence: HumanPurposeandtheFieldoftheFuture.2

Inspirationbaseddecisionmaking
Inspirationisthewaywereceivesoulbasedpromptingsintoourmind.Inspirationis alwaysverypersonalanddirective.Itisaboutwhatyouneedtodo.Itisapersistent thoughtthatwillnotgoawayoritisthenextstepyouhavetotakeinasoulcentred activity.Itwillkeeppromptingyoutotakeactionuntilyoudosomethingaboutit.The purposeofinspirationistosupportyouinfulfillingyoursoulpurpose. Inspirationisdifferenttointuition.Intuitionisnondirective.Intuitionisanideaor insightthatapparentlyarisesfromnowhereatanyspecificmomentthatprovidesa solutiontoaproblem.Intuitioncanbestbedescribedasaeurekamoment,whereas inspirationisbestdescribedasguidanceforstayinginastateofflow. Whenyoukeepreceivingasouldrivenpersistentthoughtaboutanactionordirection youneedtotake,andyoudonotfollowthisdirective,therewilleventuallybe emotionalconsequences,usuallyintheformofmelancholyordepression. Depressionarisesfromalackofalignmentofyouregomotivationswithyoursoul motivations.Whentheneedsoftheegoaregivenprecedenceoftheneedsofthesoul overalongperiodoftime,youwillbegintofeelthesymptomsofmelancholyandthen depression. Theprincipalcharacteristicsofinspirationbaseddecisionmakingareasfollows:
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Thethoughtappearstoarisefromnowhere Thethoughtispersistent

Peter Senge, C. Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski and Betty Sue Flowers, Presence: Human Purpose and the Field of the Future,: The Society for Organisational Learning, Cambridge, 2004.

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Thethoughtislinkedtoactionsthatyouneedtotake Thereareconsequencesfornotfollowingyourinspiration.

YouwillrecallintheprefaceofthisbookIspokeaboutmycallingtowriteabookon leadership.Thatwasinspirationinaction.WhenIbegantowritethebookIoften foundmyselfinflow.Ideasandinsightsjustkeptfloodingmymind.WheneverIgot stuckwithmywriting,Iwouldaskmysoulforguidance.Iwouldsaytomysoul,Ineed help.IfIfeltreallystuck,Iwouldsayindemandingvoicethought,Heysoul,getoff yourbacksideandhelpme.Alwayswithin24hoursanotherperfectinsightwouldpop intomind.Iwouldbebackintheflow.Ifeelthatthisbookprettymuchwroteitself.I justallowedmylifetoblendwithmyworkandstayopentoinspiration.Icanrecall periodsoftimewhenIcouldnotstoptheflow.Wordsjustkeptcomingwithout thoughtorneedforediting.

Conclusions
Thesesixmodesofhumandecisionmaking,ormorepreciselywaysofmakingmeaning andgettingtoadecision,areallevolutionarysupportsystemsthathaveevolvedto protecttheintegrityofthebody,theego,andthesoul.Eachmodeofdecisionmaking isnaturallytailoredtoenableustohandleincreasinglevelsofcomplexityintheworld aroundusandenhanceourabilitytorespond.Aswemovethroughthesesixstagesof decisionmakingandsevenlevelsofconsciousnessourmodeofoperationshiftsfroma socializedmind(youngchildtoadult),toaselfauthoringmind(adulttomatureadult), toaselftransformingmind(soulinfusedadulttoelder). Asbabieswerelyontheinstinctsofourbodymindtohelpussurviveasimplelife withparents(Level1consciousness). Asyoungchildrenwerelyonthesubconsciousbeliefsofoursocializedmindtohelpus staysafebylearninghowtoconformarelativelysimplelifewithparents,siblingsand extendedfamily(Level2consciousness). Asolderchildrenwerelyonthesubconsciousandconsciousbeliefsofoursocialized mindtonavigatetheworldwelivein,anddifferentiateourselvesfromothersamore complexlifewithparents,siblings,extendedfamilymembers,andnonfamilypeers (Level3consciousness). Asadultswerelyontheconsciousbeliefsandvaluesofourselfauthoringmindto individuate,andbegintostepintoourauthenticselfasignificantlymorecomplexlife withfamilymembers,nonfamilypeers,andbosses(Level4consciousness). Asmatureadultswerelyonthevaluesandconsciousbeliefsofourselfauthoringmind toselfactualizeandbecomefullywhowereallyareaverycomplexlifewithourown family,parents,siblings,extendedfamily,nonfamilypeers,bosses,andsubordinates (alsoLevel5consciousness).

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Assoulinfusedadultswerelyonthevaluesandintuitionofourselftransformingmind tointegratewithotherswhosharesimilarvaluesandacommonvisionanevenmore complexlifewithourownfamily,parents,siblings,andextendedfamily,nonfamily peers,bosses,subordinates,andpartnergroups(Level6consciousness). Aselderswerelyontheintuitionandinspirationofourselftransformingmindtoserve humanitythisisascomplexasitgetswithourownfamily,parents,siblings,extended family,nonfamilypeers,bosses,subordinates,partnergroups,humanityandthe planet,aswellasfuturegenerations(level7consciousness). Instinctssupportusfromthemomentweareborn.Werelyonthemtonavigatethe firsttwoyearsoflivesuntilwelearntotalk. Subconsciousbeliefssupportusinstayingsafeandsurvivingduringchildhoodoncewe havedevelopedtheabilitytotalkandbeforewehavedevelopedthefullcognitive abilitiesofourmind.Consciousbeliefsthentakeoverasourprincipalmodeof decisionmaking. Whenwebegintoindividuate,weneedanewguidancesystemformakingdecisions thatisnotbasedontheparentallyandculturallyconditionedbeliefswelearnedduring ourformativeyears.Thisiswhenthevaluesofthesoulcomeintoplay.Valuesarethe survivalsystemofthesoul.Thesoulusesvaluestoprotectitsintegrity. Aswegrowanddevelopinsoulconsciousness,wefirstlearnhowtousevaluesto supportourdecisionmaking;thenwelearntotapintoourintuition,andfinallywe learnhowtofollowourinspiration.Inspirationisthemodeofdecisionmakingthat enablesustofulfilourdestiny.Thesoulinfusedpersonalityoperatesfromvalues, utilizesintuition,andisguidedbyinspiration.

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