We’re faced with countless decisions throughout our lives. Some are mundane: What should I make for dinner? Others are life-changing: Should I go through with a divorce? When it comes to weightier matters, decision-making can be difficult. We fear disappointing others. Sometimes we feel we “should” do something that we really don’t want to do. Or we fear making a wrong decision, fueled by a “there’s no going back” mentality.

What can we do when we’re stuck? These steps can help:
 

1. Identify the time frame. When does a decision need to be made? In two weeks? A month?

2. Make it concrete. Put things down on paper. It helps you to get an accurate look at the decision that needs to be made.

3. Gather information. For example, consider the case of a 40-year-old woman trying to decide whether or not to have a baby. She started gathering information by talking to her doctor about the possible risks and speaking to other mothers who had children later in life.

4. Explore all options. Make a list of the choices available, letting the mind roam freely. In the case of the woman trying to decide whether to have a baby, she included alternatives as well. What if she couldn’t become pregnant? Would she use a surrogate? Adopt?

 5. Consider the pros and cons of each option. Think about the possible outcomes of each. When we are not getting clear direction, it helps to assign each option a number, with one being not important and five being really important. This can help clarify what resonates as true for you.

In the end, we want to make choices that align with our values and long-term goals. In the case of the woman trying to decide whether to have a baby, this exercise helped her realize that family pressure was driving her to consider the question. In the end she went with her gut feeling that taking on such a responsibility wasn’t right for her.

Live Life Coach Suzi April works with clients to help them create the lives they truly desire. For more information or to set up a free 30-minute consultation, call 772-228-8361 or visit LiveLifeCoach.com.