Making a Decision - fight it or embrace it

Making decisions can be tough or freeing.  I don't know about you, but I find that the more layers there are to what the decision means, (or the more it involves money or technology), the more time I procrastinate about making it.  In particular, when the right decision means that I have to figure something out, learn a new skill, or make a long-term commitment to something, I tend to shy away from pulling the trigger.  "I don't have time for that right now," is the usual rationalization.

When a decision involves a few simple choices, I find it helpful to write a pros-and-cons list or visualize each choice to the end and see which I feel more comfortable with. Another trick is to make the choice, then sit on it for a few days and see if you still feel excited about it.

However, when one of the choices, the one I really want to pick, has me procrastinating, I find that the only thing that will help me get off the fence is to talk it out with another trusted coach, friend, or family member.  My particular personality type, an extroverted People type (in the Peoplemap™ system), really needs that “talking it out” method to help us process our thoughts.

Putting off making decisions is one of the worst things you can do.  It delays the inevitable and sometimes alters the outcome no matter what choice you select.  I remember years ago not sending in my college acceptance letter until the last minute.  I had to ask my mom to write a check for me and at the time, I felt uncomfortable doing that, even though I had the babysitting money to cover it. I’m sure I was really more worried about the long-term financial commitment.  (I paid for my own college bills and took out about $8000 in loans). By the time I sent in the deposit, I was put on a waiting list for my major (Phys Ed).  It caused a whole cascade of repercussions like the classes I could select and the dorm I got assigned to. I wasn’t able to declare my major for almost 2 years.

We make decisions every day, from what we eat and wear to the jobs we do and the family we create. If you have trouble making decisions, step back and look at the big picture.  What kind of decisions are you avoiding and why?

After being on the life coach journey for over 8 years, I am quicker to notice when I am procrastinating and why.  I enjoy making decisions faster and for the right reasons. It truly is freeing to get to that unstuck place.