Over the last few years, I have had many times when I have been in what I now fondly describe as an 'indecision loop'. Yes, I am prone to overthinking, ruminating and feeling anxious. A triad of behaviours that make it difficult to thrive and find joy.
None of these indecision loops have been without cause or without consequence. I have changed job and career, got divorced and moved home and geographical location. In almost every case, there have been multiple potential options and decisions. My problem has always been deciding which path to take and taking that first step forward. If you are someone who struggles to see the paths never fear I promise to do another post on ways to see them. However, for those of you, like me, that struggle to decide on which way to go. I'm going to share one of my tried and tested strategies.
I speak to many people who are stuck in what could be described as a state of life dissatisfaction. Many talk about the negatives of their relationship, the burn out associated with the job and whether they should leave the profession. The same thing is always overarchingly true. When you cut away the words and get curious, they feel stuck, sad and unsure.
One of my solutions is to flip everything on it's head. We often get drawn into an analysis of the pros and cons of each option. This can keep you stuck. Sometimes a change of perspective helps. What about grabbing a piece of paper and mind mapping the question 'What is stopping me from being happy at the moment?'? Might sound a little wild but you will be surprised how much clarity a complete shift in perspective can make. Look at your map, group them and rank them into a list of the most important things that need to change. You can then go back to your pros and cons list of the options and it can provide real clarity on the critical things that need to change in your life to allow you to thrive.
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