In our fear of being wrong, or looking stupid, or losing out on opportunities — we waffle. We waver. We fail to make decisions.
We try to make decisions that leave all the options open. We’ll try it all, rather than pick a single dish. We’ll date as many people as possible, rather than cultivate deeper relationships. We’ll rack up followers and acquaintances and friends, rather than spend time with one person through the difficult and exciting times.
Action and decision-making requires having an opinion.
When you have an opinion, you say, “I believe THIS about the world,” and “I think that it works better when we do it like THIS.”
This requires you to take a stand, to think about the consequences of a decision, and make a choice even when all the information isn’t present.
Decision making isn’t easy to do, but waffling isn’t necessarily an easier answer. It may feel cozy for a while, until you realize that not making a decision costs you as well:
When you don’t make a decision to date one person, you date nobody.
When you don’t pick what food to eat, you end up without dinner.
When you try to give your customers everything you want, you fail to differentiate yourself as a business.
When you don’t decide what to focus on, you’re 55 and still don’t know what to do with your life.
Decision-making seems like it will hurt. But not making a decision doesn’t actually lessen the pain.
What’s your point of view? What do you think is important?