August 21, 2023

How to deal with decision paralysis

cartoon of man on a junction where he could go left or right

Sometimes we prevaricate over the smallest decisions without knowing why. We feel paralysed and the struggle with ourselves saps energy and distracts us from more important things.

In the end, decision paralysis comes down to the fear of consequences; this produces anxiety, which in turn fuels the fear. It is a downward spiral for many people.

What decision are you struggling with right now?

To drive out the fear of consequences, look at this decision from these four perspectives:

1. What would happen if I did?

2. What would happen if I did not?

3. What would not happen if I did?

4. What would not happen if I did not?

Each of these is a subtly different question and you will get great clarity around the consequences of the decision by thinking about each in turn.

Write down your answers to one question then move on to the next.

With this new clarity, consider the benefits of making the decision?

What would you gain, and what would you miss out on?

How do you feel about the decision now?

My best wishes, Paul

Paul Matthews

CEO and Founder of People Alchemy

share this article:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

related posts

Cartoon man lying on the floor with a x and tick above him to chose from

This quote made me stop and think…

"A person either hates losing enough to change, or he hates changing enough to lose." – Orrin Woodward It took some thought to unravel what ...
Read More

Do you feel important?

"It's so simple, yet makes such a difference. Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, ...
Read More
man lying on grass under sky, thinking...

You probably already know this

Changing who you are will change – when you change what you think. Changing what you think... Can you do that?
Read More
Headshot of Paul Matthews

TJ interviews: L&D strategist, author and speaker Paul Matthews

Today is the 25th anniversary of People Alchemy: Jo interviews founder and CEO Paul Matthews
Read More

search blog

Get your free weekly tip

You agree that we can keep a record of your details, and send you other occasional offers. See our Privacy Policy