There are lots of options in life and that's generally a good thing!

Choices mean you have lots of opportunities for your future. But many people are afraid of decision-making because they don't want to make the wrong choice.

Cookie Monster deciding which plate of food to eat.

These 3 strategies will help you make decisions without fear!

Be Comfortable With Having Options

Whether it's thinking about a new summer job, vacation, career plans, or what to do with friends, it's common to make a simple, single plan.

A man looking at lots of vending machine choices Photo by Victoriano Izquierdo on Unsplash

But this is the best time to make several plans. Be ready to have options even if you think may not need them at all.

Quiz

Having too many options makes you look uncertain and non-committal.

Seek Feedback From Others

Your friends, parents, or coworkers probably faced a decision similar to the one you're thinking about. They wondered what college to attend, what job to apply to, or whether to travel abroad.

Larry David GIF: It's a terrible thought, but that's what I think.

Ask for their advice!

They'll likely tell you things you hadn't thought of, including a peek at what the reward is at the end.

Know That Success Is The Sum of Failure

The third technique is just knowing it's OK to fail — even fail often.

Most successful things we do are the result of many unsuccessful tries. Think of learning how to ride a bike or swim, or even playing a game. Sports teams don't quit either after they lose, they learn, move on, and try again.

Take Action

The next time you feel worried about making a wrong choice, consider these three tactics:

  1. Make sure you have options or backup plans — don't rely entirely on just one choice.

  2. Seek feedback from peers or adults in your life, as they've likely been in the same situation as you.

  3. Understand that if you make a wrong choice and fail — even repeatedly — that's not a bad thing and is often part of the journey to success.

Signpost showing choice and direction Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

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