Decisions by leea

 Recently, I’ve noticed myself reflect on the major decisions that I’ve made in the past few years. Whether they be related to my academics or personal life, there were definitely moments that I wish could’ve played out in another direction. Would my life be drastically different in comparison to how it has transpired right now if such and such happened instead? In terms of missed opportunities, what was it that motivated me to not pursue them? Was it the fear of the unknown consequences or the discomfort of breaking out of my comfort zone? Whatever the reasons were, I’ve come to recognize some common pitfalls that often interfered with my decision-making process. 

The Mindset: A Decision Doesn’t Limit but Rather Opens up our Options

Someone once told me that there exists no bad decision because every choice will continue to lead us to an infinite number of outcomes. Like a choose-your-own-adventure book, our unique experiences collectively work to shape our beliefs and perspectives which, in turn, influence the type of decisions we make based on the choices that are presented to us. On and on, this cycle continues to characterize our life. In choosing to view decision-making as a cycle that further expands our options instead of restricting us, we alleviate the fear of developing regrets and the “what ifs.” Most of us are familiar with the rhetorical saying: “Is the glass half full or half empty?” Similarly, the choice is in our own hands to perceive a decision as a leap of faith that will either send us crash-landing into a dead-end or to our next destination in life. 

The Questioning of the Self: Does it Encourage Us to Become a Better Version of Ourselves? 

Of course, no one is ever flawless but it’s precisely this constant wrestle between the person we are now and the person we strive to become that encourages growth. There comes a time when major decisions need to be made and it’s daunting to be decisive during these moments because of the weight of the responsibility. However, it’s helpful to reflect and ask ourselves whether a certain decision would go against our own personal values. More importantly, does the decision encourage us to become a better version of ourselves? Does it motivate us to improve our faults and accentuate our strengths? While external factors, such as our family and friends, can help cultivate an environment that enables us to grow, I believe our intrinsic motivation is what ultimately urges us to improve ourselves. Perhaps it’s precisely this inherent sense of self that we should tap into when we question the changes that we would like to bring onto ourselves. Be honest with oneself. 

The Danger of Stalling: Thinking or just Overthinking? 

“Think before you act.” This simple rule of thumb can prevent disastrous outcomes from happening but the extreme end of it can also cause a person to spend a disproportionate amount of time pondering over all the possible options. The obsession with choosing the perfect decision can potentially spiral into an unhealthy cycle of overthinking. Furthermore, by overly emphasizing the potential outcomes of a decision it can exacerbate our anxiety and ultimately fuel our fear of making decisions. While thinking over our options can be beneficial, I believe there must also remain a balance between being cautious and, for the lack of a better word, impulsive. Although the latter is often associated with a negative connotation, I like to perceive it as one of the catalysts that actually perpetuates us to go forth with our decisions. Perhaps it’s this rush of determination and confidence in oneself that we sometimes need to have in order to make a decision---in order to just do it.