Sometimes making decisions can be challenging. Whether it is a big decision, like making a long term commitment or the simple choices everyday of what to do, eat and wear it can take some thought. Some people are more inclined to make decisions easily or choose the easiest and path of less resistance. Sometimes these people are methodical and routine oriented which helps in their decision making process.
Or there are the other people, like me. I have never been an overly structured person or one to be into the same routine, day after day. When I have made decisions quickly it was based out of fear, frustration or impatience! Those choices did not always work out so well for me. These days I have learned to be more aware about the choices I am making, I ask myself how this choice would be for my highest good and what are the potential outcomes. Including how it may affect those closets to me.
Yet, even with my healthier and more mature approach to decision making, I still struggle with some of the bigger decisions. The commitments, the things that are not easily undone. I realize that every time I am not making a decision, I am actually making a decision. Time passes, sometimes opportunities or options dissolve, sometimes my heart changes and so on. Life continues to happen as we are indecisive. I wonder, looking back how much time I have lost not making a decision and taking action about certain things?
I understand that sometimes it is best to wait on decision making. Especially when you have suffered a traumatic event or big change; divorce, death of a loved one, career change etc. And sometimes you need time to just ‘be’ and let life happen for now. But for myself, I have used that excuse a bit too often. Having an important decision before me, one I have agonized over for some time, I have concluded I need to set a time frame to make a final decision. Five days. If you struggle with decision making, I hope you will benefit from my five day plan!
“A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”
– Farheen Shaikh
