A Guide to Making a Difficult Decision 

We make decisions all the time, but when it comes to things that impact our life in a big way, it can be difficult to decide on your best step forward. Give yourself time to sit down in a quiet, undisturbed place and use the questions below to reflect.  

1.Start with a simple Pros and Cons list

This can help to gain momentum and start to face the process of decision making. Remember, it’s not about the number of items on each side (one item may outweigh three), but more about figuring out what's important to you, and letting you put your thoughts to paper. 

2. Here are some questions you can ask yourself 

What am I giving up by making this decision? 

Will this decision impact my psychological well-being? 

How will this decision impact the people around me? 

What if I fail? 

What if I succeed?

Does this serve my future identity? 

What resources might be required for pursuing this? 

How will this enhance my life?

Who can I talk to about this?   

Dealing with Fear of Failure 

Sometimes it can be hard to make a decision, because we are afraid of failure. It’s good to remember that failure is what allows us to learn and grow, and you have to accept that there is a chance things may not go to plan. This is completely normal, and you can mentally prepare for this. 

Ask yourself; why is it okay to fail at this, and what could be my next steps forward if I do? 

Setting a Deadline 

A personal deadline for when your decision will be made can also be helpful in encouraging you to make the time to reflect, assess your gut feeling and go ahead with a decision.  

Once you’ve made the decision- own it, be confident that you did every step you could to make the more suitable choice for you, and try your best to let the weight of this go and move forward.