What Do I Do?!

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

YourLife: It’s 2am and you’re wide awake, filled with stress and anxiety about a decision that you just can’t make. Maybe you’re trying to decide between four different colleges, or three different boys, or two different extracurricular activities, but it just seems impossible.

So now what?

Set a Deadline – Before you do anything else, pull out a calendar and put a big star on Decision Day, the final day by which you have to choose one option over the others. Creating a deadline will help you stay focused and avoid unnecessary panic.

Make a List – The hardest part of making any big decision is getting to know all the options. So take out your notebook and start writing. Make a list of your choices. Under each choice, make a list of what’s good about that choice, and then a list of what’s bad about it. Just get it all on paper so it’s out of your head. Writing it down will help clarify how you feel.

Get the Facts – Once you have your thoughts down on paper, you’ll see where the information holes are. Is there an option that you don’t know enough about? This is your chance to do some research and fill in all those holes.

Discuss – With your completed list in hand, sit down with someone whose opinion you trust and talk it out. Tell them what you’re trying to decide, what the possible outcomes are, and what your fears are about each one. After you’ve laid it all on the table, ask for advice. Who knows, maybe this person will point out something you hadn’t even thought of!

Listen to Yourself – Schedule 20 minutes to go for a quiet walk and just think. What is your heart telling you? What about your gut? What do you truly want?

Just Do It – You’re awesome, and you know what that means? It means you deserve to get what you want. You’ve made a list, asked for advice, thought it out, and you’ve settled on what to do. Next step? Fully commit to your decision and just do it already!

Evaluate – Sometimes, even if you go after what you want, it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped. After putting your plan into action, make sure you step back and evaluate your decision. If something’s not working, make changes! Remember: it’s never too late to switch directions.

Want to learn more?

Families Online Magazine: http://www.familiesonlinemagazine.com/kids-decision-making.html

Youth Development: http://youthdevelopment.suite101.com/article.cfm/problem_solving_skills_for_teens

Leadership Tools: http://www.leadership-tools.com/decision-making.html