During periods of uncertainty, making well-founded decisions becomes challenging. It may feel like you can’t control anything, and the fear of making a wrong move can be overwhelming. However, if you give up and do nothing, you might end up with even more problems. Here’s what to do to make the right choices when life seems chaotic:
Define Your Desired Outcome
Even if you’re unsure of the exact direction you need to take, you might have a sense of the result you want to achieve. It’s crucial to clearly identify what you need in order to figure out what actions to take for your success. Knowing your end goal will help you assess risks, plan your actions, and anticipate surprises that could impact your outcome. Believe that even in uncertainty, you can create a successful strategy.
Face Your Fear
Uncertainty can be frightening, so it’s important to understand what specifically is causing your anxiety. You might fear failure or making a mistake that could negatively affect your life. Sometimes, fear arises from worries about letting others down or not taking action. Identify what scares you and name your fear. Then, evaluate how rational it is. Often, we fear not the actual situation, but the possibilities that may never happen, and it’s these thoughts that prevent us from making the right decision.
Develop a Positive Mindset
To make the right decisions even when uncertainty and fear are pressing, it’s important to cultivate a positive mindset. This doesn’t mean putting on rose-colored glasses, seeing only the good in bad situations, or ignoring the challenges life throws at you. It’s about learning to focus on the positive aspects you have right now. This approach will help you stay resilient and motivated to overcome difficult situations.
For example, if you’ve been unexpectedly fired and haven’t yet found a new job, it’s easy to fall into sadness or anxiety about your remaining funds. However, there might be something optimistic in this situation to help shift your outlook. You may not have a job at the moment, but you have friends and family who are ready to support you through this tough time. Try to replace fear with hope and joy so that uncertainty doesn’t seem like an impenetrable fog.
A great way to start is by finding small things each day that make you smile. It could be something simple like taking five minutes for yourself, starting a new book, or enjoying a cup of your favorite coffee during lunch.
How does this affect your decisions? When our minds are filled with negative thoughts, we tend to focus solely on the bad and let fear dominate, which directly impacts our choices. But when we maintain a more balanced state and avoid falling into despair, we can stay objective and consider situations from different perspectives.
Take Action Despite Lack of Information
In a rapidly changing and uncertain world, you’ll never have all the information needed for absolute confidence in your decision. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to reveal what to do — it may never come, and you risk missing current opportunities. Gather all the available information you have now, make a well-considered decision, and take action without procrastinating.
Accept That You Might Make Mistakes
To avoid disappointment and self-blame for a poor choice, it’s crucial to acknowledge that even good decisions can fail under uncertainty. However, making a mistake is far better than inaction and missed opportunities. Mistakes can be corrected, but missed chances are often irretrievable.
Avoid Unjustifiable Risks and Impulsive Decisions
Even though you accept that some decisions might lead to failure, it’s important to avoid unnecessary risks and control impulsiveness. During uncertain times, it’s better to thoroughly think through your actions rather than acting on a whim and regretting it later. Don’t gamble on matters you can’t control, such as investing your last savings without a safety net.
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Create a “Safety Island”
The problem with uncertainty is that it creates a feeling of insecurity. It feels like life is constantly throwing new problems your way, and you can’t always predict them. This pressure can lead to poor decision-making. To prevent uncertainty from affecting your choices, create a “safety island” to retreat to during stressful times. This can be something that reminds you of childhood or happy moments. You might recall a favorite dish from a beloved grandparent and cook it, rewatch cherished cartoons, or play a nostalgic video game. After spending time on your “safety island,” you’ll find it easier to approach problem-solving and decision-making with a calm mind and clear perspective.
Avoid Overloading Yourself
In times of uncertainty, the worst thing you can do is to tackle everything at once. It’s better to make one well-considered decision rather than many poor ones. Prioritize your tasks and proceed step by step. Avoid multitasking until the uncertainty diminishes.
