The art of making the right decision

Are you familiar with the feeling of being afraid to make the wrong decision when something is important to you? You are not the only one.

The many self-improvement books are a clear sign that many people feel the same way as you and I.

So how do you know which decisions are the right ones for you?

How to make it easier to decide

First, you can be happy that you are in doubt because when you are in doubt it means that there is more than one course of action to choose from.

Man is characterized by being able to choose and deselect. Where animals do something because it gives them satisfaction, we humans, on the contrary, can ask ourselves questions before we choose. The ability to ask questions, and our ability to try to predict what will happen in the future, can make us nervous.

The eternal possibility kickstarts the bad emotions and feelings inside us. Once we realize that no one will make the decision for us the fear takes over and we can try not to decide to avoid making the wrong decision.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to make an important choice and you began to sweat, your stomach made trouble and you had difficulties to think straight? These body reactions might very well have been activated by fear.

Inspirational guide

• Imagine there is no right or wrong choice but instead there are 2 right choices
• Focus on the opportunities that you will get from both options
• If you decide on option A, which new opportunities and experiences can you gain?
• If you decide on option B, which new opportunities and experiences can you gain?
• Gain as much knowledge as possible about the options you need to choose from
• Talk to as many people as possible within your network and consult professionals to get good advice
• For a moment, set aside your thoughts and ideas on what other people might think you ought to do and listen to the signals that your body is sending you
• Do what is coherent with your personal values

Your life goals can change during your life and it might be that the choice you make today will not be the same as the choice you would have made 5-10 years into the future. By then you can revaluate your course, decide to do something else and cherish the experiences and skills that you have gained along the way.