how to deal with indecision

[synergyperson]

This is a problem I've been struggling for a bit now. These days there are so many choices and opportunities which should be a good thing but I can't seem to decide about pretty much everything. For example, I go into the library and have trouble with what books to choose. Or more serious, whether I making the right career choice and I agonize about it everyday. I read the book "Paradox of Choice" which was interesting but didn't seem to help my problem.

[Ellen]

Hi, reading your post It did not seem to me that you have a problem with making decisions, (afterall you decided to make your post and carried it through). I think your problem may be that you are worrying too much.

[stockaholic]

One of the things that helps me is to recognize that most of my decisions are not final. When choosing what to check out from the library, I remember I can always bring the book back and check something else out. Some things are easier to change than others, but most decisions are reversible and that seems to help me make a choice and go with it until information comes up that suggests I change. Another thing that helps me is to write down my choices and analyze the pros and cons. Very obvious, I know, but I often forget to do this. For example, I have several business ideas I think are viable and I have been distracting myself by persuing many of them instead of focusing on the one or two that are most promising. So, I set up a quick Excel file to make rough estimates of how much profit I thought each business could bring in, how much it would cost to start up, what my time investment would be, etc. It really became obvious which option to choose after doing this. If my first choice doesn't pan out, I can always switch (and my first choice requires mainly time - not money, so I'm not out anything out of pocket).

[Alvin]

I had a problem with making decisions too, and making good and fast decisions is an area in which I wanna grow as well.

After I read somewhere that most successful people make decisions fast, I decided to test it out...and I made a whole lotta bad ones!

But the 'ouch' from the bad ones have helped me become better at making the good ones, I believe. Of course, I didn't cut my teeth on the major decisions, like whether or not to quit my job on a whim. But borrowing a book or choosing lunch I could do.

Test it out