Madeleine Morgan of Growu writes:
Relax…analysis paralysis is an age-old problem. Even Aesop had something to say about it in his story of the Fox and the Cat.
The fox boasts that he has hundreds of ways of escaping from the hounds while the cat has only one. When they hear the hounds approaching, the cat scrambles up a tree to safety while the fox is so confused by all his choices he is paralysed into inaction and gets caught by the hounds.
If you’re experiencing analysis paralysis right now, what could be some of the reasons? Here are some of the things my clients have realised. Perhaps you can relate to them? You’ve:
- been trying to juggle too much information in your head
- isted the pros and cons and they’ve come out fairly evenly – whatever you decide, you’re going to lose something important and gain something important to you
- got a fear that you’ll make the wrong choice and end up in big trouble
- had bad experiences with making impulsive choices, or even considered ones, and you don’t trust your judgement any more
- consulted friends, colleagues and family and they have so many conflicting opinions, or demands, that you’ve become thoroughly confused
- got to find out more about what you really want before you can make a decision
- not got the right decision making processes
The trouble is, as the fox found out, not making a decision can be just as dangerous and making one.
So, how can we regain our sense of steadiness, decisiveness and confidence when we need to make a big decision?
Here are 7 ideas for overcoming analysis paralysis my clients have found useful:
- Write down your thoughts – they are easier to deal with when they’re on paper
- Sort out if your fears are related to a pattern you have of catastrophising or whether there is some good reason for caution
- If it’s a pattern, talk to someone skilled (like a Life Coach :)) who can help you break the catastrophising pattern, clear the negative effects of any past bad decisions and help you build your confidence
- Talk through your options with someone who is skilled at being objective and can help you get clarity about your best choices (like a Life Coach :) )
- Every decision has some risk attached to it so work out plan B and
- Build skills that allow you to face any challenge resourcefully
- Make decisions at the right level. For instance, sometimes you can’t know what to DO because you need to know what’s really IMPORTANT TO YOU first
Have a Difficult Decision to Make and Want to Discover more? Try this:
1-2-1 Complimentary ‘Make a Big Decision’ Coaching Discovery Session
If you could confidently change one thing in your personal, career or business life, what would it be? I have 2 complimentary spaces for 1-2-1 Discovery Sessions this month. During that session, we’ll discuss where you are in your business, career or personal life. We’ll uncover hidden barriers to your success. We’ll get clear on how you’d like your life to be. Then I’ll show you how you can bridge that gap. You’ll go away feeling positive, excited and certain about your next steps.
If you would like to apply for a session, just email me: madeleine@growu.co.uk
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