This material is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or psychotherapeutic advice. If you are experiencing an acute psychological condition or need professional support, please contact a doctor, psychologist, psychotherapist, or crisis service.
Based on B. Blumenthal’s book “One Habit a Week”, with editorial clarifications and an example.
The book proposes trying small lifestyle changes over 52 weeks. A gradual pace gives you opportunities to notice what you can repeat and what needs adjusting. The format can also be used for decisions: choose one situation, try a manageable step and return to the result. A year-long plan alone cannot guarantee protection from illness, ageing or stress.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." — Sarah Frances Brown, as collected in “P.S. I Love You”
How to Overcome Indecision
We make decisions every day, and even a simple choice can take longer than expected. Information, energy or clarity about priorities may be missing. Sometimes we expect certainty that is not yet available. Try naming exactly what remains unknown and which answer would genuinely affect your choice.
Agonizing over "right" decisions wastes time and nerves, breeds stress, and reduces life satisfaction.
Postponing a decision also has consequences: an opportunity may disappear while uncertainty continues. A pause can also provide time to gather important information or reject a dangerous proposal. Compare the costs of acting and waiting in the particular situation. Start by asking whether a small step can be tried without a substantial loss.
If decision-making paralyzes your will, try the following:
- Prioritize according to your values. When a choice can affect your whole life, carefully consider your values and what matters to you. Prioritizing based on your principles, not someone else's, will make it easier to choose what serves your true interests.
- Notice your intuitive response and check it. An immediate feeling may suggest interest or doubt. Check the facts alongside it: whether you have the skills, whether the conditions fit and what people who know the field advise.
- Make room for a trial. A small reversible decision can use a good-enough option. Where consequences are costly or irreversible, additional checks make sense. Establish whether you can change course before committing.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help. While decisions should be driven by your goals, it's helpful to ask people who know you well. For example, if you're choosing a smartphone but aren't tech-savvy, ask a friend who can explain the best option in simple terms.
Practical Advice on Making Choices
Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper’s 2000 paper describes three studies of choice. In those settings, smaller selections could encourage purchasing or completing a task more than larger ones. This is not a measure of “ten times greater confidence” or a rule that choice must always be reduced. A practical question is whether additional options help with your task or repeat what you already know.
- Narrow options by criteria. When additional options no longer add useful information, retain a few suitable ones to compare. In a restaurant, for example, start with a section of the menu that fits what you want.
- Match the deadline to the cost of error. Ten minutes may be enough for an evening outfit. An expensive purchase needs time to check conditions and returns. Name what you will find out before the deadline.
- Define criteria in advance. Set parameters before deciding. For instance, when picking a gym, decide what's most important: price, location, or equipment quality. Discard everything else.
- Simplify recurring small choices. A familiar template or usual coffee can sometimes spare you another comparison. Reconsider when price, quality or your needs change.
- Prepare a manageable Plan B. Choose a plausible difficulty and decide what you would do and how much you can afford to lose. A plan may clarify the next step without making anxiety disappear.
- Allow disappointment. If the result is unsatisfactory, name the loss and check what can still be put right. A setback does not have to feel like a useful lesson immediately.
The saying above appeared in H. Jackson Brown Jr.’s “P.S. I Love You” (1990), a collection of sayings he attributed to his mother. Quote Investigator traces its attribution. It is a prompt for reflection, not evidence that every risk is better than pausing.
Applying the Algorithm from B. Blumenthal’s Book (Example):
- Prioritizing (Values): Alex asks himself: "What is more important: a perfect image or the chance to share knowledge now?" He realizes his core value is self-realization, which makes acting easier.
- Interest and testing: Alex is drawn to “Communication Basics”. He chooses it for a short trial lesson and asks a few prospective participants which difficulties they would like to explore.
- Giving up Perfectionism: Alex wanted a professional studio but remembers: "perfection doesn't exist." He records the first module at home. The main thing is to start moving.
- Getting Help: He can't handle website settings. Instead of wasting a week, he calls a specialist who explains the basics in 15 minutes.
- Reducing options: He keeps two platforms that fit his budget, language and required functions. Popularity alone does not establish suitability.
- Time limit: He plans to compare trial versions and payment terms within 48 hours. If important conditions remain unclear, he will not buy an annual subscription merely to meet his deadline.
- Defining Parameters: He sets criteria: "affordable and local language interface." He discards everything else.
- Predictability: To save energy, he uses an existing presentation template instead of designing a new one.
- Plan B: If nobody enrols, Alex will gather feedback on the programme and decide whether to change it. He caps spending for the first test in advance. The plan provides a next step even if fear of failure remains.
- Handling disappointment: After a weak launch, he will acknowledge the time and money spent, review feedback and decide whether to continue. Trying differently and ending the project are both possible choices.
What can be tested before a large commitment
Alex can record ten minutes of a trial lesson before renting a studio or buying a long platform subscription. He can check the sound, clarity of explanation and a few people’s responses. This trial will not establish demand for a full course, but it provides information for the next decision. Consider your own idea: what small test is available now, and what is its maximum cost?
AI-generated illustration: recording a trial lesson before committing to a costly course launch.
Conclusion: From Overthinking to Confident Action
After choosing, return to the reasons behind the decision. Which information was sufficient, what remained unknown and what would prompt you to reconsider? This allows you to learn from the outcome without requiring yourself to foresee everything.
MriyaRun Advice: Focus on What Matters
For written reflection, you can use an ordinary notebook or MriyaRun tools:
- Self-discovery journal: record your criteria, available options and what you still do not know.
- Metaphorical associative cards: an image can prompt you to describe your associations. Cards do not verify facts or determine the right decision.
- Workbook: make space for an action plan, costs and a date to revisit the outcome.
Start with one situation, identify the check you need and decide when you will return to the result. You can record the process using Go to Catalog.
When a decision has been made but keeps waiting for someone else’s approval, use the life-script audit of responsibility, limits, and the next testable step.