Parallel Worlds: a practical method to exit decision loops

At a glance

Mind spinning?

With Parallel Worlds you stress-test a choice from multiple angles:

World 1 (Purely Rational), World 2 (Your Perfect World), optional Extended Worlds, and then land on a Mediated Choice that blends logic with what truly matters to you. Finish with an embodied check to make sure your nervous system can actually carry the decision.

Why it matters

When we’re undecided, we tend to oscillate—between seemingly rational arguments, personal needs (not always clear), and external pressures—usually while anxious and without a method.

Result: decision loops, fatigue, procrastination (or random choices).

Parallel Worlds intentionally separates these layers: first logic, then authentic preference, then tailored “stretch” prompts that disrupt common biases and interferences. Finally, you mediate them into one sentence that holds utility + what you value, reinforced by a somatic check (thought is embodied).

More details under the video.

Quick wins

• Time: 5–12 minutes (3–5 with practice)

• Map: W1 Rational → W2 Perfect → Extended Worlds → Mediated Choice → Embodied Check

• Output: a clear decision + first micro-action, sustainable for the next 6–24 months

How to do it (step-by-step)

1) World 1 — Purely Rational

Imagine a world where only logic counts: no status, trends, fears, or social pressure.
Write plainly:

• Total cost over time

• Concrete benefits you’ll actually use

• Risk vs return (what could go wrong, what you gain if it goes right)

• Constraints (time, skills, resources)

Guiding question: If I judged only utility and sustainability, what would I choose—and why?

2) World 2 — Your Perfect World

Mute everyone else’s voice. Here we prioritize energy, joy, ease, pride, mastery, fewer conflicts.
Capture:

• What genuinely nourishes you (including “light” aspects like ease, aesthetics, belonging)

• What you would remove (friction, irrelevance)

• Which option makes you want to grow/evolve

Guiding question: If nobody judged me, what would I choose just for me?

3) Extended Worlds (pick 1–2)

Train cognitive flexibility with quick extremes:

• A world without kids/parents (or without another key role)

• A world where your job doesn’t exist

• A world where you’re the last person on Earth

• A world where memory resets every day (yours, others’, or variants)

• A world where time doesn’t pass

• A world with infinite resources (food, money, etc.)

• A world where everyone works only for passion; salary is state-set and equal for all

We’re not aiming for realism—these are prompts to surface hidden criteria and break autopilot.

Guiding questions: What changes now? Which hidden criteria show up that I wasn’t naming?

4) Mediation — The decision sentence

Write one sentence that unifies all worlds—valid today and robust for 6–24 months.

Useful structure:

“I choose X because it maximizes [2–3 utilities from W1] and protects/nourishes [2–3 values from W2], etc.
First step: [micro-action within 24–72 h].”

Micro-actions: send an email, book a call, set budget/time, take a free trial.

5) Embodied Check — Verify “in the body”

Close your eyes and simulate one week living with that choice: mornings, work blocks, meals, social moments.
Notice breath, jaw, shoulders, belly.
If tension rises or locks, adjust the mediation (limits, timelines, resources) and run the simulation again.

Why it works

• The brain predicts, then “checks” whether predictions hold. Keeping rational and desire separate first creates informational contrast and reduces self-deception.

• Extended Worlds add small, controlled prediction errors that reveal biases and unspoken criteria—and increase flexibility of thought.

• The embodied check aligns the decision with the nervous system, avoiding choices that look good on paper but are unworkable in real life.

One-page worksheet (template)

Split the page into three columns plus a final box:

World 1 – Rational
Total cost, concrete benefits, risks/countermeasures, constraints.

World 2 – My World
Energy/joy, ease, reduced conflicts, mastery/growth.

Extended Worlds
1–2 scenarios + hidden criteria that emerged.

Bottom box — Mediated Choice

• Decision sentence (1 line)

• First micro-action (24–72 h)

• Body cues to monitor (breath/jaw/shoulders/belly)

For professionals

Framing: “Curious discovery and free experimentation. Early attempts can be repeated; you don’t need to force mediation immediately.”

Timing: from 3 minutes (to try it, build familiarity, or revisit a well-formed session) up to 20–30 minutes if you want to unpack each layer. The embodied check can be repeated days later to see if finer sensations emerge and/or after initial changes.

Further prompts: “What did you discover you hadn’t seen?” “What’s the single factor that, if it fails, flips your choice?”

Integrations: before cognitive restructuring, exposure/imaginal, and skills rehearsal; pair with Feeling the Boundaries of Perception to clarify somatic signals first.

Common pitfalls & fixes

• Merging layers: mixing logic and desire in the same column → separate first, then mediate.

• Zero numbers: W1 without metrics = opinions. Add at least 3 data points.

• Vague mediation: add constraints and a dated micro-action.

• No body check: the “right” but unlivable choice shows up in the body—simulate a week.

Keep exploring

This tool is part of Integrative Sciences and the book Stress, Emotions and Health.
For deeper dives, worksheets, and case examples:

• Read the book

• Explore the courses

Logic vs. real life? Don’t choose—create a mediated, embodied decision.