What do you do when the choice you need to make is not between good and bad, but rather between two great options?
This happens to me daily.
If you find yourself in similar situations, I have a few suggestions that might help.
- Let go of the annoyance that a decision needs to be made.
Deciding between two or more good things is common, and dwelling in the frustration inhibits your ability to make a decision.
2. Look ahead to the end result of each choice.
Is there a clear “winner” as to which you would be glad you finished first? If there is, go with that choice.
If not, move to #3
3. Evaluate the choice with both the head and the heart.
Both the head and the heart are important in the decision making process. Being open to what both parts of you are saying may make a choice clear.
4. Start with one choice. Take the first step and see what happens.
You may feel good or maybe something interferes, and you are then led to the other choice. The decision is then made for you and you can move forward without second-guessing yourself.
For example:
It was the perfect sunny, windless day. It was getting late in the season and the weather had not been cooperating. I was determined to plant my garden.
Suddenly, I had an idea for my blog.
If I don’t write those ideas down immediately, I lose the idea. No matter how obvious or powerful the inspiration is, I’ve learned, my memory cannot be counted on.
I was torn.
Write or plant the garden? Either decision might mean I lose out on the other.
Though I wanted to flesh out the idea and spend time writing, I wanted to get my garden planted.
I quickly jotted the basic idea down, and moved forward with the garden, only to find out the nearby greenhouse was closed.
My decision was made for me. No gardening that day.
I was then able to follow through with the other good choice and focus on writing.
5. Trust that sometimes there is no right or wrong, and that whatever you choose is just fine.
I believe that things have a way of working out.
Knowing this relieves me of much of the stress I may experience when faced with more than one good option.
Facing this daily dilemma of choosing between two (or more) good options is made easier when I have tools to help guide me.
See if these suggestions help you stay focused and on task when deciding between the many good options you face.
I’d love to hear your results.
With love,
