Do you remember the last time you had to make an important decision? How did you feel, knowing that your decision making could have life-changing effects?
When I think back to such situations in my own life, the simplest phrase I can use to describe myself is a complete mess. You know what I mean. Knowing that you have to choose, but are driven mad by the very thought of it? Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, being overly sensitive? Some people can’t sleep, others can’t eat. Some will eat too much in situations like these, while others will turn to bad habits such as smoking or even procrastination. A whole bunch of thoughts and feelings that are all caused by the fact that an important process is ahead.
Why is this such a scary concept to most of us?
Most often, the anxiety this process causes is the result of our fear of mistakes. We are naturally scared of making mistakes because we are unprepared to face the consequences. But what we need to keep in mind is that not all consequences have to be negative.
Do you want to know a fact?
We can never exactly predict the effects of our decision making. We can anticipate the possible effects of our choices, but can never foresee an exact scenario. But that’s the beauty of taking a pick, is it not? 🙂
Want to know another fact?
There is no such thing as the perfect decision. You can only aim to make the best possible choice at a given moment. Seeing that we are unable to control all the effects of our decision making, we should never expect to have the ideal choice. It’s possible, of course, but it’s extremely rare. Instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, it is much better to rely on ourselves, our resources, focus on what we deem important, and our behavior. These are the things that we can control.
So, when faced with this type of challenge, it is best to keep the following in mind:
- Be ready to face all the consequences brought on by your choices.
- Try to relax your need to completely control outcomes.
- Have a strategy in place for the challenge ahead, as well as for its results.
- And finally, make your choice and implement your decision. 🙂
What else is important?
When considering the aftermath of our decisions, we need to keep in mind both the good and the bad. Sometimes, people are simply not ready for positive outcomes, which is why they procrastinate. One explanation for this is that they’re unused to being comfortable, so the idea of a good result feels off.
Sometimes, decision making is difficult because it means choosing between two things. These can be good and bad, both good, or both bad. These situations often make us think about all the things we gain and lose. An approach like this – one that involves creating a pros and cons list, is not a bad idea. Keep in mind, all choices we make in life have their price, and it’s good to know what exactly we’re paying. However, instead of tackling this challenge with an “either/or” approach, it’s better to go about it from the perspective of “this and that.”
The idea that there’s only one choice to be made, or more precisely, that we can only choose one option, often leads to postponing the decision-making process.
Even though every possible commitment requires you to make a choice, accept possible losses, or a price that needs to be paid, I recommend you go at it from the following angle. Try to eliminate the “either/or” approach. Instead, think about what you can do so that you are provided with everything you need. This way, you can implement the “this and that” method.
For example, if you want to quit your job and start your own business, you can make a pros and cons list. But, instead of looking at the results as black and white, you can actually try to find ways to get the best of both worlds. You can think of it this way:
Why take this approach: my own business equals less security while gaining freedom while working for someone means having a safety net but sacrificing independence? When, instead, you can do the following: make decisions which will lead to your personal business being a secure source of income while allowing you the independence you need. Or even more, finding a way to work for someone else while retaining the autonomy you require.
Want to know another important thing?
The fact that you’re preoccupied with opting for a course of action is a decision in itself.
Even not making a decision is a choice made!
Choosing to live in an uncertain state, keeping your current status, or even procrastinating can tell you a lot. If you find yourself in this situation, it is best to answer the following three questions:
- What is the good intention behind my procrastination?
- What do I gain by not deciding?
- What will I focus my energy on, if I don’t steer it towards making the best possible choice?
If you find yourself in a similar position and don’t know where to start, you could definitely benefit from one or more coaching sessions. To book my coaching services, you can contact me by clicking HERE.
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