Just Decide

Just Decide

At the heart of indecisiveness is fear; fear of not knowing - uncertainty. There are many reasons we have fears in deciding; it could be low self-esteem, prior decisions that went "awry," or that you believe someone else is more capable of making the right decision – at least one that is better than yours. The truth is, you are more than capable of making decisions – good decisions! So do what you fear – this is not about being impulsive; this is about following our instincts and innate ability to "follow our gut."

"Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing." –Denis Waitley

What if I told you that you are not making decisions because you do not believe you can. The motive behind our indecisiveness can be traced back to fear – the fear that we could be wrong in our choice. This comes down to uncertainty and the human condition. We are innately programmed to need certainty throughout our lives; this is the basis of our fight or flight mechanism. We display confidence in the form of our daily habits and rituals. We return home from work because we have certainty our home is there. We enter a familiar building believing the roof will remain above us and the walls will not fall in. We are confident that when we enter a room and close the door, the oxygen is going to remain.

Remember that there is a balance between your instincts and listening to your mind. Your brain will keep you safe, but your gut may allow more risk. You want to balance the two; follow your heart – but take the brain with you! Deciding in the face of uncertainty is to face the unknown. What could happen if I make the wrong decision? What would a bad decision even look like? Do you believe you can make the 'right' decision? Yes – of course, you can! What's needed is to understand all the choices you have in that decision, every variable. The first step is to permit yourself to make decisions; you are in control of your destiny in life – you can decide!

In the business world, your success comes from making a decision, lots of them. If you make a wrong decision, make another one, if that one is wrong, you make yet another one, and if that decision is wrong - well, you get the picture. Real success comes from understanding that not all your choices may be right; this is part of successful decisions – we learn from what does not work.

Social influences can lead us towards a herd mentality - making the same choice as our peers to 'fit into' a group. However, over the years, people have used social media as their decision guides.

People tend to believe in what their friends recommend. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are the most popular social media site where people share their lifestyles, stories..., or even where they went on vacation. Posting information could lead friends to do the same thing or use their knowledge to make decisions.

B. Tiger

"Standing at the crossroad of life, I now can decide - not to decide."

So now you truly understand you can make a decision, many of them if you need to. But, if you are to model successful decision-makers, you will always find that they do, and will, make wrong decisions – we all do. A successful conclusion is not making the right decision – it is making your decision suitable! So, do not believe you can make a decision today, know that you can and will make it right!

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