Questions To Ask When Struggling With A Decision

I’ve recently seen several clients who are struggling with decisions in their lives. This struggle can feel like you’re stranded on a boat in the midst of a hurricane. If you can relate, ask yourself the following questions to help figure out why you may be struggling and get back to smooth sailing.

Do I know how I feel?

We often struggle with making decisions because we’re not sure how we feel about the situation. It can be helpful to talk through how you’re feeling, either by writing in a journal, confiding in a trusted friend, or working with your counsellor. Most of the time the process of narrating what your situation will help clarify how you’re feeling about a tough decision and guide your next steps. 

Do I have mixed-feelings?

Maybe you’re clear on how you’re feeling but are still feeling torn between your options. Often, we’re torn because there isn’t a clear “best option.” If possible, try to get more information about the different options. Then, you can try putting this information into a weighted pro/con list, ranking each point on a scale of 1-10. Assigning different weights to each point can help clarify your priorities and may even tip the scale in the direction of one choice over others.

Is this a big freaking deal? 

You may be clear on how you’re feeling and, for the most part, have no mixed-feelings towards your choice. Even so, you may still be struggling. You may have a hard time following through with your decision or be replaying the choice in your mind, worrying and wondering. If this struggle sounds familiar, you can try asking yourself if this decision is just a Really Big Deal. If it is, try remembering all of the reasons behind your choice. We all have times in our life when we need to make choices that can potentially change our lives. Yes, these moments can be scary, but it’s important to trust yourself – you’ve got this!

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This article was written by Jaylin Bradbury during their time at Shift Collab.