Written by: Moira Hutchison, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Do you sometimes have trouble making up your mind? Indecision can hold you back from professional and personal success. You potentially could miss valuable opportunities and add to your stress levels.
While indecision shows up in many ways, there are usually only a few root causes. Let’s have a look at three of the most common obstacles and how to overcome them.
Obstacle One – Pleasing Others
Do you automatically go along with what others want or do you stand up for your own needs? Learning how to advocate for yourself will help you to make decisions that are consistent with your values and goals.
Some tips to implement:
Evaluate consequences. Imagine how different your life would be if you make yourself more of a priority. It may motivate you to practice being more assertive.
Flip a coin. While major decisions require careful thought, you also need to connect with your true feelings. Flipping a coin could potentially help you to recognize the results you truly want.
Seek feedback. You can still collaborate with others. Ask colleagues, friends, and family members you trust for their input and support.
Keep a journal. When you are trying to change any ingrained habit, you can gain insights by writing about your behavior. Spot the situations where you tend to agree with others regardless of what you really think.
Consider therapy. It may also help to talk with a professional coach or counselor. They can help you to increase your awareness and design new strategies.
Obstacle Two - Feeling Overwhelmed by Choices
Having plenty of options can be a positive thing. However, it can also make you feel like you are being pulled in too many different directions.
Slow down and ground yourself with these strategies:
Clarify your criteria. Think about your purpose in life. It can help you to eliminate alternatives that are inconsistent with your goals.
Limit your options. Do you find yourself wasting time and energy on trivial issues? Simplify daily routines by eating the same nutritious breakfast each morning or building a capsule wardrobe that allows you to dress in 10 minutes or less.
Think long term. Pay attention to the full impact of your decisions. How will your choices affect your future?
Obstacle Three – Dealing with Perfectionism
Do you hesitate to act because you feel pressured to excel? Developing realistic standards will help you make smarter and faster decisions.
Keep these ideas in mind to develop realistic standards:
Start small. Work your way up to handling project proposals and job offers. Practice by resolving what to cook for dinner and where to go on weekend outings. Each decision will build your confidence and skills.
Accept uncertainty. It is tempting to put off reaching a conclusion so that you can gather more information. However, you need to determine how much research is adequate so you can proceed and deal with other responsibilities.
Value learning. Remember that professional growth and personal development depend upon using experiences to increase your knowledge and skills. Any setback can be beneficial if it helps you to perform more effectively next time.
Take sensible risks. Give yourself credit for having the courage to take a chance even when you feel uncertain. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Concentrate on what you may gain and recognize that you may lose more by not taking any action.
Develop compassion. How do you treat yourself when a decision fails to deliver the results you wanted? Learn how to comfort and encourage yourself. Use positive self-talk. Meditate daily to relieve anxiety and build your self-esteem.
Take charge of your life. When you face your fears and focus on your goals, you will be able to make decisions with greater comfort and confidence.
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Moira Hutchison, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
As an Intuition Cultivator and Mindset Mentor, Moira Hutchison guides her clients to access the inherent power they have available when they ignite their personal trinity of trust, inner awareness, and self-confidence. Moira works with professionals who feel that there is something better in life for them, but they have no idea how to access it. However, they have a yearning to be guided by their intuition and align with their unique calling. What makes her distinctive and different in this work is that she has developed the ability to take complex energetic, and spiritual ideas and interpret them in ways that people find easy to understand, integrate and implement.
