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I’ve been thinking lately about decision-making.
When we live in a world full of options and opportunities, it can cause overwhelm when we try to figure out what the next best thing is. It can be easy too, when we’re sat in anxiety that has seemingly come from nowhere, to be reactive and to try anything to get out of that situation.
In both situations; when I make decisions to try and escape overwhelm, or to try and reduce a feeling of anxiety I’m experiencing, I am often very reactive and make rash decisions.
But when I take the following steps, things seem to turn out for the better, and feel lighter along the way.
Step 1. I acknowledge that I am feeling anxious and overwhelmed. I might tell someone else I feel like this, or name it to myself.
Step 2. I get still and try to calm myself through meditation, yoga, being with nature, or talking more with someone I trust. (It can be helpful to make a go-to list of these things that can be easily accessed during difficult times).
Step 3. I make a decision based on what I want, rather than what I want to escape.
Part three is the new learning for me. For years I looked to change or escape situations, but now I try to look at what I want instead. I engage my imagination, I think of situations that feel exciting, fulfilling, and alive and I take action towards them. I know there isn’t a nirvana where everything is perfect, but life feels more enjoyable and energised when I make decisions based on potentially positive outcomes.
When I aim for a positive outcome, rather than focus on the thing to escape, the thing I’m struggling with tends to sort itself out anyway, without me paying much attention to it. Rather than getting bogged down with the issues, taking action towards something positive and light can help us work through the mud.
Photo by Brian Mann on Unsplash