Decision-making (or Locating the Cojones)

Sometimes the hardest thing, and the cause of most procrastination, is actually taking an active decision.

In this context I mean a concrete, tangible decision with a clear goal and action points. A vague decision to ‘move abroad one day’ just won’t do.

Doing this is SCARY. As soon as you make a decision you are ruling out other options and, inevitably, some doors do close. But the feeling of relief you have, once you have taken the decision and started to act accordingly, goes way beyond the scary feelings you have when wavering at the crossroads with your brain busily firing different scenarios at you.

The temptation is to stall. The timing isn’t great: maybe one more year at this job/what about the flat you own/the puppy you’ve just bought… It is very rare that the ‘perfect timing’ shows itself to you. Whenever you decide to leave, it will probably be difficult and inconvenient for at least someone (most likely you), but that’s no reason not to do it.

The worst thing you can do is not make any decision and live in a perpetual state of neither one thing nor the other. Remember: Not taking a decision IS a decision. If you don’t choose, life will choose for you. And the longer you leave it, the harder it will become.

I have a friend who returned from travelling fired up to move abroad somewhere where she could perfect her Spanish. She took a job in London to fund her next adventure. But time ticked by without her ever taking the active decision to fulfil her dream. Finally, some years later she told me that her window had passed. By not doing anything she had inadvertently made permanent what was supposed to be her interim.

I’m afraid no one can help you make your decision, or tell you what to decide. Should you stay or should you go? Only you can know.

For some great advice on decision making, take a look at Zen Habits:  

http://zenhabits.net/life-decisions/

Then take some deep breaths and go with your gut.

Written by: Katie

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