Making important decisions can be challenging. And sometimes, when you’re trying to make a big decision, it can feel like your brain just can’t make up its mind. We all make decisions every day, and sometimes it feels like we’ve to make millions of them. And sometimes our brains just can’t make up their minds – that’s normal!
The good news is that there are ways to help you narrow down your options and make the best decision for you. In this article, we’ll talk about how you can do just that.
Feelings Change
Sometimes we can’t decide because we feel one way one day, and the next day we feel entirely different.
We all know that feeling: one day, you’re sure of what you want, and the next day you’re just not sure. You feel like you change your mind every two minutes or as often as the wind changes direction.
Indecision is okay sometimes! That means you’re human! And it’s also okay to make a decision and stick to it – even if your heart tells you otherwise.
Sometimes the Right Decision Is Obvious and Simple, but Sometimes It’s Not So Clear, and We Keep Going Back to Our Original Decision and Have a Second Thought Again
You may feel torn between two choices that both seem good or bad, but both appeal to different parts of you at different times. It’s important to understand yourself so you can choose the option that works best for YOU in this case.
Here are three tips for making choices that are right for YOU:
- Know yourself and what you want from your decision. If you don’t know what your goals are, how will you know if your decision will help or hurt them?
- Don’t get lost in the moment, but think about how the decision will affect your life in the long run. If you have doubts about a tough decision today, but your gut feeling is that it’s a positive change for your future, stick with it!
- Be patient with yourself! Everyone makes a wrong decision sometimes – Just try not to make the same mistake twice.
You Juggle Multiple Perspectives in Your Head
Decision-making can feel like you have too many options. But even if you only have two or three options, it can feel like there are a million other possibilities.
That’s because we juggle multiple perspectives in our heads but wait to make a decision until it feels good to move on.
Here are some tips on how to make sure your next decision is the right one:
- Write down all the possible consequences of your decision and rate them on a scale of 1 to 10 (where 1 is terrible and 10 is excellent). This way, you can see all the possible consequences, so there are no surprises later – you know exactly what you’re getting into!
- Make sure your decision is consistent with your values! If your core value is honesty, then the decision to lie won’t be easy for you – even if it’s only a “little white lie”. Make sure that every decision aligns with what’s most important to you!
- When deciding between two options, ask yourself, “What would happen if these two options were true?” This will give you a better idea of what might happen if one happens and the other doesn’t – and which option feels best for achieving what you want out of life.
You Resist Change, Even if It’s for the Better
We all know that change isn’t easy. We resist it, even when it’s for the better.
It’s hard to change your mind, but it also has a lot of benefits. Here are some tips to help you change and stick with it:
- Make sure you want to change. If you’re just doing what everyone else is doing because it feels comfortable, you might want to take some time and think about why you’re so resistant to change in the first place. Maybe there’s another way that would work better for you?
- When you decide, try asking yourself, “If no one knew about this decision, would I still make it?” If yes, then go for it! But if no…then maybe reconsider.
- Make sure you have support from people who believe in your decision and will hold you accountable. Having someone who believes in us can make a big difference when we’re trying to change our behavior or habits.
Fear of the Unknown
If you decide to return to school, move across the country, or quit your job and start your own business, fear of the unknown might hold you back. This is especially true if you’ve never done any of these things before.
It’s Scary to Make a Decision Because You Don’t Know What’ll Happen When You Make It. You Don’t Know if It’ll Work Out or Not, and That Uncertainty Can Produce Fear
Here are some tips on how to overcome your fears:
- Be realistic about how much control you have over the future. Don’t act out of negative emotions, but try to make an informed choice unless your gut instinct tells you this is the right decision.
- Research how other people have dealt with similar situations in the past – and how they felt afterward!
- Make sure the change is coming from you. If someone else is influencing your decision, it may be time to take a step back and figure out what you want instead of blindly following someone else’s plans. Finally, you must live with your life decision, not anyone else, even if it’s a family member.
Lack of Confidence in Your Decision
You know that feeling. You’ve finally decided on a career path, a vacation spot, or a new look for your room – and then suddenly, you’re not so sure.
You start doubting yourself: what if I’d chosen this other thing? Or what if I hadn’t decided on any of those things?
This is called decision regret, and it can become a big problem if we don’t get a handle on it immediately. Here are some tips on how to deal with decision regret:
- Recognize the signs: If you think about all the things you could’ve done instead of what you’ve already decided to do, it’s a sign that something is wrong in your head. Maybe you should take some time off your decisions to rest and relax before trying again.
- Get perspective: Sometimes, we forget how many options there are when we’re in the middle of a decision. Look around at how many options are available to you – you’ll be surprised at how many things are out there!
- Focus on the why: It’s easy to get lost in our heads when making important decisions (especially big decisions).
You’re Overloaded With Information
You’re overwhelmed and change your mind.
It happens to all of us: When you have to make an informed choice, the more information you’ve about each option, the more likely you will change your mind. It’s human nature: we believe we’ve to be 100% sure about something before we commit.
But there are ways to combat this information overload and make sure you make good decisions and stick with them. Here are some tips:
- Keep track of where you’ve been looking – and stop looking! If you frequently jump back and forth between two options, write down where and how long ago each decision was made. Then, when you feel like there might be another place or option, you can remind yourself that this is the current state of affairs. You’ve looked at these options long enough; now it’s time to move on!
- Set a deadline for each option – and try to stick to it! If you don’t set a deadline for any options, you will likely get bogged down in over-analysis.
Deciding Makes You Restless
Deciding what to do with your life is something everyone goes through at some point – and if you’re feeling anxiety, it could be affecting your mental health. Anxiety can make it hard to cope with everyday life, and if left untreated, it can lead to depression. So, how do you deal with it?
The first step is acknowledging that there’s no perfect choice – and that’s okay! The second step is your health care. This can be as simple as taking a walk in the fresh air and eating a healthy meal, or it can be more (like seeing a therapist). Whatever feels best for you is the right choice for you!
You Avoid Confrontation
Whether confronting yourself or others, you may be putting off the hard things because you don’t want to face the consequences.
If you avoid confrontation, you’re doing yourself a disservice. You’re not being honest with yourself and with others, which can lead to resentment, frustration, and anger – all things that hold you back in life.
Confrontation Doesn’t Have to Be an Argument or a Fight; It Can Just Be a Simple Conversation Where Someone Tells You Something That Makes Sense or Helps You See Your Decision From a Different Perspective
Confrontation isn’t always a bad thing! Sometimes it’s a good thing and necessary for growth and development. See if you can discuss it with people you trust who’ll help you in your interest, not theirs!
You Don’t Feel Strong Enough to Implement the Decision
If we don’t feel strong enough to implement a decision, it doesn’t mean we’re incapable of doing so. Implementing a decision without experience can feel very difficult.
Here are some tips on how to make your decisions easier to implement:
- Take things one step at a time. If you make all the changes at once, it’ll be harder for you to accomplish them. You’ll be overwhelmed by all the tasks, which may seem too big.
- Start with something small (e.g., change one habit at a time). You need to progress slowly to build your strength and confidence.
- Make sure that each change is meaningful and important to you to keep it long-term!
It’s Okay to Change Your Mind
Changing your mind isn’t necessarily bad – it can signify that you’re open to new ideas and ways of doing things. It also means you’re not afraid to try new things and take risks to make yourself happier.
The world is big, and there are many things to learn. Therefore, it’s only logical that sometimes you make a life decision that you’d rather not have made. Whatever the reason you keep changing your decisions, as long as you learn from them and move forward, that’s okay.
However, it’s essential to be aware of decision fatigue to avoid making negative choices that would lead you to make the wrong decision. Know your limitations and ask for help when facing a difficult decision. You don’t have to do everything on your own!