This Side of the Creek

Each of us face decisions every single day — from the moment our eyes open until we lay our heads down at night. We decide when to get up, what to eat for breakfast, what to wear to work, what time we will leave the house, how fast or slow we will drive in our cars while listening to the radio or not. These are smaller decisions that many of us may not put much thought into.

But what happens when it’s time to make a large, potentially life-changing decision? Do you ask your friends and family for their opinions? Do you lay awake at night debating pros and cons in your head? Do you make a decision and then decide against that decision?

Facing life’s big decisions can be very overwhelming, especially for someone like me who has a significantly difficult time settling on a final decision. “You’re so indecisive,” I hear all too often. I know that much of it has to do with worry over whether I’m going to make the “right” decision (see my previous post “Worrying for Worry’s Sake“).

One of the key people in my life has told me several times that every decision is the right decision when you make it. It’s what’s right in that moment and if it doesn’t work out, you discover that and can then do things to change the situation. We may often feel like every decision we make is forever and if we make one choice, we can never go back and try out the other option(s). However, that’s the beauty of free will. We can always choose, even if we discover that we don’t like our choice.

I have the tendency to ask everyone around me for input before making a big decision thinking that someone will essentially make the decision for me. It wasn’t until more recently that I realized that no matter how many people I discuss things with, I still have to be the ultimate decision-maker… ME.

What do you struggle with when making a decision? Who do you consult and how do you eventually choose? Has there ever been a time when you made a decision and later changed your mind?

Just something to think about…