are you choosing not to choose?
I’ve recently come to realise that people who have decision paralysis also tend to suffer from post-purchase dissonance – the buyer’s remorse experienced after making a purchase.
These individuals dwell on the decision-making rather than embracing the decision - just as they enjoy the process of buying something more than owning it. They also look at choice as a limitation of their future options. While this certainly is a simple reality of choice, I argue that it’s the pessimistic view.
When we believe that one choice can limit our future choices it can hold us back from taking action because we don’t want to miss out. So why not flip that notion on its head? Instead of considering how a choice limits future choices, why not considered the span of opportunities that choice actually enables?
The truth is the key to success is the ability to make decisions and embrace the outcome of those decisions. The power of being a good decision maker lies more in the making than in the deciding. Success and opportunities arise from a willingness to act – and that means a willingness to choose! Wrong decisions can be made but if you’re good at making decisions you’ll tackle the subsequent difficult decisions that will get you back on track.
And, by the way, when you don’t choose anything you are in fact choosing not to do something.
Author: Steph Jeuken
Categories: Self Development, Planning, Leading & Managing,