Smart Steps
Women business leaders and entrepreneurs from various industries share their tips and advice in a "quick read format" on a variety topics.
Topic: Making Better Decisions Aligned with Your Goals
November 2025
Kat Gottlieb
Photo Courtesy: Kat Gottlieb |
Kat Gottlieb is a published author, soulful artist, and award-winning entrepreneur with a background in marketing communication and a passion for authentic expression. Her creative career began in brand development, where she helped clients craft compelling, heart-centered messaging. She went on to found a specialty printing and art business, earning honors including an award from the New York Stationery Show.
Her work has been featured by Hay House, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Calypso Cards, and her art has been exhibited internationally. She also co-founded innovative businesses in the home improvement sector that advanced cause marketing and people-focused initiatives. As a single mother of three, Kat developed deep insight into resilience, purpose and self-expression. Today, she uses her creative voice to inspire others to live with intention, courage and soul. She is also an active philanthropist and advocate for mental health and personal transformation. “When your thoughts and feelings work together, you stop forcing outcomes and start flowing toward your goals.” ~ Kat Gottlieb |
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Decision-making can feel overwhelming when logic pushes one way and your inner voice pulls another. Aligning your thoughts and feelings — what Kat Gottlieb calls Think/Feel — creates clarity, authenticity, and flow. By listening to your body’s cues and embodying the energy of your goals, you can make choices that expand possibility instead of contracting it.
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Have you ever stood at a crossroads, weighing two paths, and felt completely frozen? On one side is the option that looks good on paper — the “safe” or logical move. On the other is the one that stirs something deeper, tugging at your chest or sparking a sense of possibility.
The more you think, the more tangled it becomes. Lists, logic, and outside opinions swirl in your head, but you can’t seem to gain clarity. While society prizes logic and speed in decision-making, research and lived experience show that your best choices come when your goals align with your authentic energy.
The more you think, the more tangled it becomes. Lists, logic, and outside opinions swirl in your head, but you can’t seem to gain clarity. While society prizes logic and speed in decision-making, research and lived experience show that your best choices come when your goals align with your authentic energy.
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"Achievement flows when your decisions are congruent with your truths. I call this harmony of mind and body Think/Feel: the practice of letting your thoughts set intention while your feelings reveal authenticity. When you learn to trust both, you flow with mind, body, and soul certainty." ~ K.G. |
That’s because decision-making isn’t just about logic. Your body holds wisdom, too. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio’s research on the somatic marker hypothesis shows that these physical cues — like a knot in your stomach or a breath of ease — are vital tools for navigating choices (Damasio, 1994). Your goals aren’t just tasks — they’re invitations to embody the future version of yourself. From that vantage point, decisions become less murky. Simply ask: “Does this option align with how I want to feel once my goal is achieved?” Achievement flows when your decisions are congruent with your truths. I call this harmony of mind and body Think/Feel: the practice of letting your thoughts set intention while your feelings reveal authenticity. When you learn to trust both, you flow with mind, body and soul certainty. Think/Feel alignment turns decision-making from pressure into clarity — your mind points the way, and your feelings confirm the truth. |
The following lists will help you strengthen your Think/Feel, so you can make better decisions in line with your goals.
Dos:
Don’ts:
Think/Feel alignment doesn’t make decision-making effortless, but it does make it powerfully authentic. When your thoughts and feelings work together, you stop forcing outcomes and start flowing toward your goals.
- Notice the Flow: Pay attention to how each option feels in your body. Expansion means you’re moving toward alignment; contraction suggests resistance.
- Embody Your Goals: Don’t just chase outcomes — practice being the person who has already achieved them. Visualize how you’ll feel in that future and let those feelings guide your choice.
- Align with Authentic Energy: Think/Feel isn’t about perfection — it’s about truth. Better decisions come when your head and heart speak the same language — that’s the power of Think/Feel. Respect your inner knowing to keep you from distractions or wasted effort. Lead with what truly lights you up.
- Pause Before Big Choices: Give yourself a moment to breathe, imagine your goal fulfilled, and feel the energy it creates. Compare your options against that state.
- Practice listening to your inner wisdom regularly: Tune into your Think/Feel often. Practices of journaling, meditation, yoga and spending time alone helps you tap into your inner wisdom. When you need information, you know how to find it.
Don’ts:
- Ignore Your Body’s Cues: Logic alone can mislead. If your chest tightens or your energy drops, don’t dismiss it. It’s your body — your energy — telling you that it isn’t aligned. Trust what it tells you.
- Let Pressure Dictate Your Path: Deadlines and outside expectations often push you toward misaligned choices. Resist the rush. Give your internal guidance a moment to speak to you.
- Settle for Hollow Goals: If a decision drains your energy, it isn’t aligned — even if it looks “right.” That “meh” feeling means you are not authentically interested.
- Confuse “Should” with Soul-Aligned: The word “should” is often a warning sign. Instead, ask: “Does this choice align with who I am becoming?”
Think/Feel alignment doesn’t make decision-making effortless, but it does make it powerfully authentic. When your thoughts and feelings work together, you stop forcing outcomes and start flowing toward your goals.
Click book cover for more information.
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Using seven powerful principles — Manifestation, Magnetism, Unwavering Desire, Delicate Balance, Harmony, Right Action, and Universal Influence — Kat teaches manifestation methods that go beyond surface thinking and into deeply resonating emotional alignment.
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