Stop Pondering and Decide

No matter who you are, making decisions is always difficult. Furthermore, depending on your culture, it may be even more difficult than you want to tell yourself.

Japanese and other people from collectivism societies especially have troubles with taking decisions due to the “risk” of the impact it could have on others around. Thus they end up pondering the different choices over and over again, often ending up not being able to take a stand on something.

As said Grace Murray Hopper, pioneer computer scientist, in a speech in 1982: “Always remember that it’s much easier to apologize than to get permission.“

We always try to make the best choice, taking into account all the different variables in relation to a particular situation. But, often enough, this just brings us to a complete stop where no decision is taken.

We know the importance of taking decisions and yet we always find it hard to do. I myself pondered for about 20–30 minutes on which topic I wanted to tackle today. Not that I didn’t have any idea in mind but I simply could not bring myself to start any.

And that’s how it hit me. I couldn’t make a decision. Why? Not that starting to write on X or Y topic would have ruined my life or even my blog, but I was always finding a reason not to write on those topics.

As I was taking note of this complexity of making a choice, I remembered numerous times during which I had gotten angry due to someone else not being able to take a decision…