I have stated before, and I will state again, I do not do well with major decisions. I take that back. I do not do well with decisions, period. They can be simple, they can be complex; making decisions causes me anxiety and stress. So when the occasional life-changing decision comes along, you can imagine how much the stress and anxiety ratchets up.
I am on the cusp of one of these right now. This decision will be one of the biggest decisions I have had to make in a long time. While I do not look forward to that day when I actually have to decide, if and when it comes, this decision is self-imposed. I have no one to blame for it but myself.
In thinking about this decision though, I also began thinking about how I handle items like this and what I might be able to do to help ease the stress and anxiety. I see others making hard, life-changing decisions and I wonder how they do it without showing any stress. How do they look so calm and happy when going through the decision making process?
For me and my obsessive/compulsive tendencies, I make lists. Pros and Cons. Random thoughts. Others' inputs and ideas on the topic. I don't necessarily do this so that I can rank them and see if they offset each other. I do it mainly just to do it. I like the process. I like seeing it "on paper". I like being able to read through them over and over. I like being able to think about things that I may have forgotten.
Lists calm me.
By the way, I don't do this just for decisions. Any time I travel, I have a list for packing. If I don't do that, inevitably I forget something. For example, as I sit here and type this in Colorado Springs, I am sporting 3 days worth of beard growth. Why, you ask? It is not because I forgot my razor. However, I did forget the charging cord for my razor. And my razor had enough juice left for one shave. Yes, my lists go to the detail of not only listing razor, but also listing the charging cord. I didn't make a list and print it out and I failed. My family makes fun of me for having packing lists, but they just do not understand the depths of my stress about forgetting something.
So, besides my calming lists, I am trying techniques to not induce excessive stress upon myself over this potential, impending decision I will have to make. Yoga helps. Reading helps. Lying in my bed with my eyes closed and trying not to panic helps.
So I am soliciting input from you all. What do you do that helps you stay calm over big decisions you have to make? What techniques do you have that help you figure out the right decision for you? How do you keep so calm and happy looking when your mind is racing over pros and cons? Send them to me.
I am making a list.
