Do you find some decisions easier to make than others? Have you ever wondered why that may be?
Lots of people label themselves as ‘poor decisions-makers’. The truth is we all make hundreds of decisions every day. What to have for lunch, who to copy in on an email, shorts or leggings, to speak up or stay quiet, to exercise or not?
So the evidence speaks for itself. We are all decisions makers. Yet we choose to use broad brush labels such as “I’m rubbish at making decisions” without thinking.
What if you considered that some decisions are easier to make than others? Or that perhaps there are reasons as to why making a decision may be more challenging.
The thought of making an important decision can be uncomfortable. To get rid of that discomfort we pressure ourselves to make that decision when we may not be ready. We force a decision and then question if we’ve made the right one.
The other way we handle the decisions we’re not ready to make is to do nothing and stay in limbo.
The discomfort is real but this doesn’t make you a bad decision maker. There could be a number of reasons why it is difficult:
you don’t have all the information
you’re not ready to make that choice at this time
you’re so focused on what others think that you’ve lost sight of what is the right decision for you
you’re consumed by ‘shoulds’
you don’t know what you want or need
When you find you’re struggling to make a decision, ask yourself “What is standing in the way of me making this decision?”
“What do I need to help you make this decision?”
Maybe it is more information
Maybe it is time to work things through
Maybe it is space to reflect inwards
Maybe it is help to shut out the external noise adding pressure
Slow down first and give yourself what you need. The decision may then be easier to make.
Gemma Brown is a certified coach working with people to navigate successfully through transitions - be it career, relationships or life in general. Her belief is that when we confidently bring our whole selves to all areas of life, anything is possible. Transitions exist in both our personal and business life, and so often, the two fiercely overlap. Coaching with Gemma focuses on you as a whole, enabling you to identify your strengths, build confidence and to live a life with increased purpose and direction. Gemma is based in Cambridgeshire and carries out face to face coaching in the area as well as 1-2-1 coaching via Skype and Zoom. For more about Gemma, visit her 'About' page or contact her directly.