Choosing between alternatives can be a difficult endeavor. Sometimes we are simply unsure of which way to go. In a choice between two (or more) options, both options may be problematic, so we are between a rock and a hard place, so to speak. Or both options can seem good, leaving us unsure of which one is the better path.
At times we may find making a choice so difficult that we agonize over it. This can be very stressful. Because this choice is one factor in the situation that we control, we bear the weight of responsibility on our shoulders.
Decisions are a part of life. Sometimes making a choice between options is a difficult and stressful experience. Our choices can have far-reaching consequences. Sometimes it is just hard to know what road to take. The road not taken can haunt us down the line.
Happily there are techniques we can practice to make the process of choosing between alternatives an easier experience. There is really no need to stress about our choices. Making difficult choices is a part of life’s experience and we can become more comfortable with it and develop habits that make it a painless process for us. Try the following techniques to be on your way to making stress-free choices.
1. Tune Into Your Intuition
When we are stumped between two (or more) options, trying to tune into one’s intuition can be helpful to lean one toward one option or the other. Not all of us are in tune with our intuition, or know how to listen to it. Intuition is part of your subconscious mind and can give clues that can help your understanding of a situation. One way to tune into one’s intuition is to let one’s thoughts flow, just flow without conscious direction on our part. This can be easier to do in quiet moments. Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing and listening to relaxing music can help to ease one into a relaxed zone where the mind flows and one can listen to its insights.
2. Make a List of Pros and Cons
Another action that can help one make a difficult decision is making a list of pros and cons for each option. This helps us to break down the options and further analyze them. Taking the time to write down a list of pros and cons is worth it to aid us in better understanding the situation and the ramifications of choosing each option.
3. Discuss the Situation with Someone Trusted
Discussing the situation with a trusted friend or advisor can help to shed further light on which option is the better choice. Bouncing off of someone else with our insights and ideas can spur the other person’s insights, giving us a fresh perspective. It can also spur us to delve further into our own ideas about the situation, thereby developing further insights about which choice to make.
4. Research Your Options
Researching aspects about the choices available is wise. There is no such thing as too much information, so it cannot hurt to do some due diligence in researching various factors about each choice. This can give us valuable information to use to help us make a decision. The information we gain can also jog our own further analysis on the topic.
5. Give Yourself Time
“Sleeping on it” is another avenue that can help to give one clarity when making a difficult decision. Giving ourselves some time to process our thoughts on the options can help them to crystalize in our mind and provide more clarity. Rushing a difficult decision, especially an important one, does not feel comfortable. It can cause further stress to us. It is less stressful and more productive to take some time to thoroughly weigh our options in a relaxed fashion.
6. Visualize Potential Outcomes
Visualizing what the options will end up being like can be helpful in figuring out which option seems to be the better one for us. Visualizing involves imagining what the result would be if we picked each option. You can close your eyes and picture in your mind what would happen if you chose an option. Drawing a picture is an exercise that can assist in developing your visualization.
7. Take a Break From Analyzing
Taking a break from your efforts to make a difficult choice is another helpful technique to making that decision. If you can distract yourself from the issue for a time, you can then come back to it with a fresh mindset. Taking a break and distracting yourself from the decision-making process enables you to have a mental reset, looking at the problem with new perspective.
8. Don’t Expect Certainty
Remembering that there are factors beyond our control sends the message to us that waiting for certainty before finalizing a decision is a mistake. We may never feel certain about the choice we are making, and that is okay. We cannot expect to get to the point of certainty in our feelings when we do not have a crystal ball. One cannot predict the future and one cannot control all the factors affecting the outcome. Our goal can instead be to get to a place where we feel comfortable with our choice, and feel that it is a good choice. This does not mean that we are sure it is the only choice that makes sense. It means that we have made a choice that feels right for us, even with acknowledging that there is some uncertainty as to how it will ultimately turn out.
9. Get Comfortable with Uncertainty
There is no need to feel stress when we experience uncertainty. It is helpful to remind ourselves that uncertainty at times cannot be avoided. We do not have all the answers. The goal needs to be to make the best decision one can based on the information at one’s disposal, which is at times incomplete. That is why waiting for a feeling of certainty before making a decision wastes time and creates stress. That feeling of certainty will most likely never come. We need to make our decisions anyway. With practice, one will get accustomed to making choices and moving forward even in the face of uncertainty. With experience and perspective, we will become more comfortable in dealing with the feeling of uncertainty and it will no longer create such stress for us.
10. Take a Leap of Faith
Finally, making that difficult choice involves taking a leap of faith. Once you have done your due diligence and spent time analyzing the situation and your feelings about your various options, it is time to make a choice. And in making your choice, you should also choose to trust the universe. There is so much beyond one’s control in this life. Placing a general trust that things will be okay and that we can handle whatever comes our way enables us to make decisions without worry and stress.
Making choices can be a difficult endeavor. But there are ways to make it easier. Practice these techniques, and you will be on your way to making your choices without experiencing stress and difficulty.
No comments:
Post a Comment