It can be easy to decide what you want for dinner or what shirt to wear, but what about those decisions that really affect you in the big picture? Those decisions like your major or who you want to be with.
Usually when you’re in a position to make a decision and others are waiting on the answer, you’re asked, “What do you want?” And you’re asked that a lot. But honestly, how are you supposed to answer that when you don’t even know?
Coming from the girl who can’t even pick a table at the Rock Cafe, being in a situation like this is miserable, to say the least.
Decisions like these are often the hardest ones to make. We spend our time asking ourselves every “what-if” question we can imagine and continue to go in circles. We think we have our mind made up one day, only to go to sleep and feel the opposite the next.
As I have spent the last three weeks working on making one of “those decisions,” I found I have learned a few things in the process.
The first is to not listen to other people’s opinions. It’s nice to talk with friends about these types of things (especially if it’s taking a toll on you emotionally). However, with that, it’s important to take what they say into consideration, but realize it’s not their decision to make.
I found it’s important to remember that no matter how much you tell someone about the situation you are in, you’re the only one who is living, breathing and (constantly) thinking about it.
Therefore, you are the only one who can choose what is right for you. Hearing a number of people’s opinions makes it difficult to follow your own heart.
Something someone continued to tell me while I was in this type of situation was to be selfish. When making a big decision, you need to think about you–no one else, because at the end of the day, you’re the one living the choice you made.
Another thing I have realized in this is to pay attention to things happening in your life. Make yourself more aware of who you “happen” to run into, as well as the events you want to go to. Take a look at where your mind wanders while daydreaming in class. I know it sounds crazy, but it could be a sign of what to do.
Finally, and the one that I struggled with most, was give yourself some time, but not too much. I found that I continued to push back making a decision because I was waiting for something else to happen in the situation.
In all honesty, this just made it harder. Waiting ultimately only hurts you and the others involved. Realize now that the perfect situation is never going to come. Figure it out, and the sooner you do, the better you will feel.
As I’m one of those people who can give advice all day long but never take my own, I hope your decision will be easier made than mine.