5 Reasons Why You Must Make That Decision You’ve Been Avoiding Now
Why it is more painful to live with uncertainty than the choices you are avoiding.
You have a big decision to make. Your mind goes back and forth between alternatives, comparing the benefits and drawbacks of each but making no progress. You can’t seem to choose an answer because you don’t know which option is best for your future.
When you’re making decisions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and trapped. Decisions can be stressful because we don’t know the consequences, but that stress can become endless when we’re caught between multiple options.
Before we look at why indecision is so stressful, let’s look at what might be causing your analysis paralysis.
Why It’s Sometimes Hard To Make Decisions
You have doubts about your decision-making skills.
You don’t feel like you’re living up to your own expectations. You start to think that others would be able to make a clear decision, so why can’t you? Your self-confidence lowers, and you lack the motivation to move forward.
You are overwhelmed by the number of choices.
You don’t know where to start. Things might not work out as initially planned, which creates a type of anxiety. You know that you need to make a decision so you can do the things you want. The fear, though, is making it hard for you to move on with your life.
You’re afraid of the consequences of your decision.
You can also be overwhelmed by the opportunity costs of every option you are considering. You don’t want to make a mistake, so you keep coming up with more options to consider. Being overwhelmed often makes it harder for people to make the decision they need to because there is too much information involved and not enough time to research everything thoroughly.
You are holding out for a better option.
There is no reason to put off the decision-making process if you don’t have any other options. If all options are equally unappealing, then it’s better to make any decision than to keep delaying this for another moment. Your life is wasting away as you remain undecided. There comes a time when you have to pick which pain you can live with the most.
You don’t realize the consequences of indecision.
You are aware that every minute counts, but you aren’t putting this knowledge into practice. You might not even consciously realize the consequences of your inaction because it hasn’t affected you yet. However, your inactivity will become more apparent once you become aware of indecision’s adverse effects on your life. Your inaction may inadvertently hurt people around you whose next steps depend on the decision you are failing to make.
So why is it more stressful to live with uncertainty than the outcome of any particular decision?
Research shows that being unable to make even a simple decision can be more painful than the consequences of any individual decision. Anxiety that comes with indecision is more than a feeling of apprehension about change or wariness about facing unknown consequences. Each time you get stuck on a decision, you add more stress to your life.
When we leave something important unresolved, it causes anxiety. We revisit the worry and stress over and over. To make matters worse, this stress is cumulative.
Persistent uncertainty drains time and resources, which can leave you with decision fatigue or analysis paralysis, both of which can result in harm done to yourself or others.
When you are in a state of decision fatigue, you have moved past your ability to make the right decisions or even ones conducive to your convictions. When you’re stuck in analysis paralysis, you can’t focus on anything else, and the stress of not being able to make a decision builds up over time.
On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who, at the dawn of decision, sat down to wait, and waiting died.
George W. Cecil
What are the 5 reasons why you should make those decisions you have been avoiding now?
Analysis paralysis can harm your future relationships.
When you struggle with overcoming indecisiveness, you may become overly cautious and attempt to predict every possible outcome before making a decision. Overcautiousness can lead to analysis paralysis, where you become so bogged down in the details that you can’t make a move. Being decision paralyzed can hurt your relationships because you may be unwilling to commit to anything for fear of making the wrong choice.
Decision fatigue can lead to poor decision-making and even depression.
Making too many decisions throughout the day can lead to decision fatigue, a state in which you’re so tired of making choices that you start to make poor decisions. Unsound decisions can be harmful in multiple ways: you may choose the wrong thing or not choose at all, which can leave you feeling helpless and hopeless. In either case, you may end up making more bad choices, which can contribute to depression.
Indecision can keep you from reaching your goals.
When you’re stuck in a cycle of indecision, it’s hard to focus on anything else. This cycle can prevent you from reaching your goals, whether personal or professional. You may find that you cannot concentrate on your work or complete necessary tasks because your mind is focused on the decision you’re currently struggling with rather than the present moment.
Uncertainty can feed anxiety.
When you become fixated on the unknown, your brain starts to rewire itself to prepare for every negative outcome possible. You become stuck in a cycle of dreading all the things that could go wrong. Obsessing has been known to start a war between your emotions and rational thoughts, where neither side wins. To end this indecisive loop, you need to make a decision. Not making a choice will only feed the negative mental loops spinning inside your head.
Overcoming indecision can be one of the most transforming challenges you face in life.
It’s normal to feel uncertain about decisions at times, but it can lead to debilitating anxiety when indecision becomes chronic. When you’re stuck in a cycle of analysis paralysis or decision fatigue, you may find it difficult to take any action at all. These states of mind will only cause more anxiety in the long run. Making decisions will lower your stress levels and build your confidence to make more.
Final Thoughts:
Overcoming indecision is not easy, but it’s well worth the effort. Make a decision and stick to it so you can move on and feel more in control of your life. If you continue to avoid making important decisions, your future self will suffer.
You must make a decision and stick to it if you want to overcome indecision.
Decision-making takes time, effort, and emotional investment. If you keep delaying the process, your current mood might not support what you want for your future. You need to accept and embrace the consequences of every option and weigh out whether it is best for you in the long term.