Path to Success: How to Learn to Make Decisions
Excerpt from the book by B. Blumenthal "One Habit a Week"
The idea is simple: for 52 weeks, achieve one small positive change in your lifestyle every week. By the end of the year, you will be less stressed, more productive, improve your memory, protect yourself from disease and aging, and feel your life is more fulfilling. This program gives you a whole year to gradually reach changes that will eventually fit into your lifestyle and become habitual. This increases the chances that positive changes will be long-lasting and permanent.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." — Jackson Browne*
How to Overcome Indecision
Every day we are forced to make decisions. But even simple decisions are often not as easy as we'd like. Our indecision comes from fears born of worries that we might make a "wrong" decision. We worry because we need certainty, better results, and proof of being right. But often there are no "right" decisions. There are only different options. A decision is good if it at least moves us forward in the right direction.
Agonizing over "right" decisions wastes time and nerves, breeds stress, and reduces life satisfaction.
If we judge our decisions only by "right" or "wrong" criteria, we exclude surprises from our lives. The tactic of avoiding a decision to "keep options open" may seem optimal, but it hinders progress. Often people feel more bitterness from inaction than from a wrong decision. Even a conscious wrong decision can yield better results than no decision at all.
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.
- Trust your intuition. Indecision can stem from self-doubt. Trust your intuition to evaluate events and actions. Believe that you have the potential to organize the life you desire and make the best choice for yourself.
- Give up perfectionism. Perfectionist expectations can increase indecision. Remind yourself that nothing is perfect, and "right/wrong" or "good/bad" are relative. Many great things in life are imperfect. Action and any decision lead to growth, while inaction yields no results. You always win by moving forward and learning something new.
- 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
A 2000 experiment by Professors Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper found that while people prefer many options, they are 10 times more confident when the choice is limited. Moreover, those with limited choices reported greater satisfaction with their final decision.
- Reduce the number of options. Too many choices lead to paralysis. Narrow the scope. For example, at a restaurant, limit yourself to one section of the menu (e.g., just salads or just pizza).
- Set a time limit. Don't procrastinate for weeks. Set a deadline: 10 minutes to choose an outfit or one evening to pick a mattress.
- 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.
- Become more predictable. Eliminate minor causes for indecision. Stick to brands or coffee types you already like. This frees up mental resources for important things.
- Prepare a "Plan B" for failure. If you fear a wrong decision, imagine the worst-case scenario and create an action plan. Having a plan helps avoid stress and makes it easier to act.
- Learn to handle disappointment. If a decision wasn't the best, don't let disappointment take over. Use the experience to be better prepared for future decisions.
*Jackson Browne (b. 1948) — American musician, composer, and author.
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.
- Trusting Intuition: Instead of researching 20 topics, he listens to himself. "Communication Basics" resonates most. He decides: "I feel this is exactly what's needed."
- 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: Alex limits his platform choice to the two most popular ones instead of thirty.
- Time Limit: Alex gives himself exactly 48 hours to choose a platform and register.
- 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.
- Crisis Plan: He drafts a "worst-case scenario": zero students. His plan: gather feedback, hold a free webinar, and try again in a month.
- Handling Disappointment: If the launch is unsuccessful, Alex will tell himself: "This isn't a failure, it's learning. Now I know more than I did yesterday."
Conclusion: From Overthinking to Confident Action
The art of decision-making is about choosing what aligns with your values. Knowing the theory is only half the battle; real change starts when knowledge becomes a daily habit. When noise drowns out your inner voice, you need reliable "psychological anchors."
MriyaRun Advice: Focus on What Matters
To make your journey structured and less stressful, we’ve created tools to help you overcome indecision:
- For Self-Reflection: Our self-discovery journals help separate your values from outside expectations—the foundation of confident decisions.
- For Motivation: MAC cards are the perfect tool to trust your intuition and find answers hidden behind rational fears.
- For Structure: Workbooks will teach you to prioritize so you always have resources for what truly matters.
Don't let indecision put your life on pause. Every movement is an experience.
Choose your tool in the MriyaRun catalog: Go to Catalog
