Ever
spend ages trying to make a choice, only to get even more confused the
more you think about it? Don’t worry, you aren’t the only one. We all
suffer from prolonged indecision from time to time. When the answer
isn’t clear to a choice, we start off by analyzing the costs and
benefits, only to end up more lost and undecided. Then, there may be
other people in your life who make decisions almost instantaneously,
appear sure of themselves and hardly ever regret their choice
afterwards.
So
what is it that helps be so sure of their decisions? The secret of this
confidence and decisiveness comes from knowing what you truly want.
Life blesses us with unique and individual talents, likes and dislikes.
Our intuition, a.k.a. gut feeling, guides us by taking these internal
factors as well as external circumstances into account when we have to
make choices. The more we are in touch with our intuition, the more we
understand about what we really want, and the more clear a decision will
become. In order to seek answers that come from within and not from
others, start off by considering the following:
Is it purely fantasy?
Understanding
the difference between what appears attractive to you and what really
attracts you can be enlightening. If you asked me what kind of life I
wanted, it would go something like this: To live in a spacious two bed
apartment. And to hang out at the cafe just downstairs with a group of
close friends who happen to live nearby after work.
Hold
on. How much of that resembled a scene from the TV series Friends, or
Suits? We have fantasies that can include being international pop stars,
billionaire inventors or famous celebrities of reality TV, but these
can be due to the external influences such as social media, parents and
friends rather than what we genuinely want. People often chase after
things that appear attractive, but discover afterwards that they don’t
want it at all.
To
figure this one out, see what you spend time doing on a daily basis,
and how you feel about it. You can dream about being a killer attorney
but if the thought of law school hasn’t crossed your mind, or you
shudder at the thought of sitting in the library working through
complicated legal jargon from morning to evening, then this may be
fantasy rather than genuine desire.
What kind of fear am I feeling?
When
you cannot decide on something because you feel scared, this can be
very telling about what you really want. Human beings are born to be
instinctive, and fear could be your intuition’s way of telling you that
it is a bad idea to go ahead with a decision, especially if you don’t
want it. However, there is another type of fear that can come out
choosing, when we think something is too much for us to handle, despite
wanting it. This usually represents a foreseeable challenge from the
choice that we want, but we lack the confidence in ourselves to handle
it.
How
do you tell if it is a good or bad fear, and thus figure out if you
really want something or not? Look at the way your body reacts as you
think and talk about it. When you find positive body cues such as being
eager to talk about it with friends, looking up or leaning forwards,
this could indicate that you really want something despite being
apprehensive about the risks and challenges involved.
On
the other hand, should you find yourself stressed out whenever you
project yourself into the choice, such as shoulders constricting,
frowning or feeling downcast when talking about it, this could be your
intuition warning you against it. By understanding which type of fear
you are feeling, this can help you decide if the choice is something you
really want to go after.
What are my friends like?
It
is uncanny how quickly we can click with new friends in life, but still
feel like strangers to other people that we’ve known for many years.
Regardless of how long you’ve known someone, we are more drawn to some
people than others. Revealing indicators of who these people are include
the time you choose to spend with them, as well as those you genuinely
respect. More often than not, they share common values with yourself, as
this facilitates a mutual and deep understanding that helps you ‘click’
with each other. By observing the values and interests of those closest
to you, this can shed light on your own character, likes and values as
well.
Am I willing to accept the costs?
If
you are unsure whether you truly want something or not, think about
whether you would be willing to put up with the hardships that come
along with the choice. Most people analyze choices in terms of the
benefits, such as what they gain from choosing something over another.
Whilst this method can work well in situations where one choice clearly
offers much more objective benefits than others, such as choosing the
job that pays the most money, it may not reflect what you truly and
subjectively prefer.
One
way to decide is to look at the costs of each decision instead. For
example, many people would love to lose weight, but not many want it
enough to put up with the hardships of feeling hungry at night, going
without dessert and going to the gym even when tired or unmotivated.
When you truly want something, you will be much more willing to endure
the side discomforts and challenges that arise from the journey to the
goal. It also helps to remember that ultimately, there are no wrong
choices in life. As the saying goes, “if you don’t make the right decision, you can make the decision right.”




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