The Struggle of Making Decisions
Have you ever found yourself staring at a restaurant menu, unable to decide what to order? Or hesitating over a big life choice, analysing every possible outcome until you’re completely overwhelmed? If so, you’re not alone.
For many people, decision-making feels like a frustrating and even exhausting process. We second-guess ourselves, fear making the “wrong” choice, or get stuck in endless overthinking. But why is it so hard?
The truth is, decision-making isn’t just about weighing pros and cons. It’s about knowing yourself. The more clarity you have about your values, preferences and priorities, the easier it becomes to make decisions with confidence.
I used to struggle with even the simplest choices, like what to eat for dinner or what movie to watch. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But over time, I noticed that people who seemed successful, happy, and confident were able to make decisions with ease. I envied them and told myself that this is just how I am. I blamed my personality, my star sign – anything to justify why I was different.
But eventually, I realised my indecisiveness wasn’t about decision-making at all. It was about not truly knowing myself – what I wanted, what I valued, and what mattered most to me. Once I understood that, everything started to shift.
The Key to Better Decision-Making
Making good decisions isn’t about being naturally decisive. It’s about self-awareness. The more you understand yourself, the clearer your choices become.
Here’s what helped me go from indecisive to (mostly) confident in my decision-making:
- Defining my values – Getting clear on what I stand for helps me make choices aligned with what actually matters to me.
- Slowing down and reflecting – Looking back at past experiences helps me understand what has worked, what hasn’t, and what FEELS right.
- Noticing my “flow” state – Recognising what activities energise me and make me lose track of time gave me clues about what I love.
- Identifying what frustrates me – Paying attention to what drains or irritates me helped me realise what I want to avoid.
- Surrounding myself with the right people – Finding “my tribe” that feels aligned (even if they are different from me or each other) has given me more confidence in my own path.
Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Decision-Making Skills
If you want to get better at making decisions, try these simple steps:
- Start small. Practice making quick, low-stakes decisions like picking a meal or choosing an outfit without overthinking.
- Ask yourself: “What do I want?” Instead of focusing on what you should do, check in with what actually feels right for you.
- Set time limits. Give yourself a deadline for making decisions so you don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis.
- Trust your gut. If you keep coming back to a certain option, there’s probably a reason for it.
- Let go of the fear of ‘wrong’ choices. Every decision teaches you something. Even if it doesn’t work out as planned, you’ll gain valuable insight for next time.
The Power of Coaching in Decision-Making
Becoming a better decision-maker is really about deepening your self-awareness and that’s exactly what coaching helps with. A coach can guide you in uncovering your values, clarifying your goals and navigating choices with more confidence and ease.
If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself and want to start making decisions that truly align with who you are, coaching can be the perfect way to get there.
Drop me a line here if you’re ready to start exploring yourself!
