“If I had to live my life over again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner.” Tallulah Bankhead
My problem is that I feel as though I keep making the same mistakes.
Different chorus, same song! Aren’t we supposed to grow in wisdom?
I sometimes think that the answer lies in how busy I am; how bombarded I am with information (Maybe ignorance is bliss!); and how free I am to make my own decisions. I am free in the sense that for the most part I am a free agent. I like to think that I can do what I want when I want. Not always true. Maybe rarely true but it sounds good!
I also have a fear of being wrong. I don’t want to regret a decision later. Of course, the effect of some decisions can’t be know until years later. I have to watch myself that I don’t end up with “analysis paralysis”. To combat this, I give myself deadlines for making a decision. Here are my steps.
- In the first time period, think and research the issue in terms of known data.
- In the next time period, identify my emotional responses. Try to determine what which decision would make me happy? What would make my family happy? Talk with those who would be affected.
- In the next time period, take a day or two off to let everything settle but set a definite “decision date”.
- On the decision date, make it as early in the day as possible. Review and decide.
- Begin to implement and don’t look back. Also, I limit or eliminate discussions with family and friends who try to dissuade me.
I use the phrase “time period” because some decisions require more time such as deciding whether or not to sell my house. Other decisions such as selecting a new carpet require less time.
This process does not guarantee perfect decisions but it does allow me to move forward.
I am reminded of my friend’s sister who could not decide on what kind of finish she wanted for her door. So, for five years, the door was unfinished. She finally decided when she was putting her house on the market. So, for a few weeks instead of years, she enjoyed her finished door.
Time flies and making no decision is a decision.
Lori Greer in Portland 
Ugh. Guilty. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Lori.
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Thank you for reading and commenting. It means a lot to me. Have a great weekend.
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Guilty too! Thanks for this; I really like the idea of putting a time-frame on decisions 🙂
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That final comment is to me the key point: no decision is also a decision. And, unlike all the others, it guarantees paralysis.
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Great wisdom can be found in the most innocuous places Lori. But the one’s under our nose’s tend to take a bit of time. But that is so we will absorb them and realise the love of ourselves in making them. Those fears are the very thing that block…our walls to jump over, break through, torpedo or take a slingshot to, and are there so that we will find that inner heart, and believe it or not, those impediments to decision making vanish the moment that we do our fears in ❤
Now give yourself a hug and accept you exactly how you are, and a coffee with your feet up to test this new found freedom 😀 ❤
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Great post! Yes, I feel like either I make a spontaneous decision which I may regret later or I take too long to make a decision! I need the in between!
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Wow that sounds a rather scientific process you are going through. Impressive. I usually follow my guts. They seem to know the right thing. However, sometimes the wrong thing seems to be the right thing and I have come to the conclusion that these are important to my improvement too: sometimes you need to experience something bad to appreciate the good!
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Oh this is an interesting one. Indecision has never been an issue for me: I find it quite easy to make up my mind about big, important things. Yet….. trivial, inconsequential things cause me to dither and waste time while trying to decide…! Bizarre or what. X
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making no decision is some sort of “decision not to act or to procrastinate”. Decisions are sometimes difficult. I like to sleep over something if I am not sure in which direction my decision will take me. 🙂
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Hi, Sleeping on it is always a good idea. I get in trouble when I rush the process. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
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Great wisdom and post. Thanks for sharing. I just published a post on deciding and discerning. You can check it out.
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“I also have a fear of being wrong. I don’t want to regret a decision later.”…..been there, done that. Inevitably, though, I find that there are times I just have to turn it over to God/the Universe and let the final decision flow through me. Otherwise I go nuts. I totally can relate to you, Lori…..
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Agreed… sometimes it is better to let go and discern the path/answer through God/the Universe. Thank you for sharing your insight.
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Hey Lucie
. Do follow https://saishabloomdotcom.wordpress.com/2018/02/02/learn-from-the-mistakes/
She writes beautiful blogs . Do support her by following .🙂
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Take a deep breath always before making a major decision but the wisdom in your blog is sound. No decision is indeed a decision. Cheers!
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Thank you Faye. Your comments are always so helpful.
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Hello from over at Penny’s site! Great post! That’s such a sad story about the unfinished front door! But a lesson to us all. Thanks for sharing it.
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Yes, the price we pay when we get stalled in the decision making process. Thank you for reading and commenting on my post. Have a great weekend.
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Beautifully captured. Nice!!!
You can check out my post that relates to this via emmanuellove356165818.wordpress.com/2018/06/19/warning-mistakes/
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I read your post. Very good!
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Thank you for stopping by
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