Summary

We make decisions with more than logic.

Our experiences, fears, conditioning, bodies, expectations—and sometimes something we can only describe as intuition—are all giving us information.

But what happens when those signals disagree?

When logic says go but something inside you says stop, is that resistance fear you need to move through—or information you need to pay attention to?

In this episode of Deals with Heels, Debra Bowers talks with board-certified executive coach and author Stephanie Peirolo about discernment, self-trust, resistance, grief, leadership, and the different ways we learn to make consequential decisions.

They explore why many high achievers become exceptionally good at pushing through discomfort, but not necessarily at recognizing when discomfort deserves their attention. Stephanie explains why discernment is a practice we can develop before the difficult decision arrives—and why understanding our own decision-making style matters in leadership, relationships, and even sales.

The conversation also explores the stories we mistake for facts, how grief affects our ability to make decisions, why leaders need to accept influence, and how learning to trust ourselves can change the way we navigate uncertainty.

Key Topics & Main Ideas

- Logic, intuition and somatic wisdom in decision-making

- Why we may learn to distrust our own internal signals

- How conditioning shapes what we believe we're allowed to trust

- Building a discernment practice before the difficult decision arrives

- The difference between emotional reactivity and intuition

- Why self-trust increases our capacity to navigate uncertainty

- The stories and inherited narratives we mistake for facts

- How grief affects decision-making

- Why grief doesn't follow a prescribed timeline

- Knowing when resistance deserves curiosity instead of force

- Why high achievers may be especially likely to override resistance

- Accepting influence as a leadership skill

- Why leaders need information from the people closest to the problem

- Understanding your personal decision-making style

- How decision-making styles become buying behaviors

- Why resistance to organizational change may actually be fear about personal capacity

- Why different leadership styles are valid

- How to make a decision when you don't have unlimited time

- Movement, meditation, creativity and community as tools for discernment

- Why fear of making the wrong decision can become paralyzing

Resources

Stephanie Peirolo

Author of The Saint and the Drunk: A Guide to Making the Big Decisions in Your Life

Website: https://speirolo.com

Substack: Fierce Grace

Stephanie is also active on Instagram and TikTok under @SPeirolo.

Connect with Debra Bowers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-bowers/

The Growth Vanguard: https://thegrowthvanguard.com/

Human Sales Playbook: https://thegrowthvanguard.com/free-ebook

Hexagon Media: https://hexagonmedia.net/

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Until next time, stand strong in your power—especially when it gets uncomfortable.