(Oral Bac 2014 G1-G2)

Decision making is an inevitable part of life. Decisions about the mundane things are made with relative ease. Sometimes, however, decision making can overwhelm and immobilize us. Sell, merge, or try a new marketing strategy? Resign from an unfulfilling job that pays well? Work at my marriage or file for divorce? Well, here's one definitive answer: If you ever suffer from "analysis paralysis", continue reading.

Indecisiveness can be attributed to a host of limiting beliefs and circumstances, including: stress; lack of knowledge or professional guidance; not knowing where to turn for help; lack of support from family or friends; and lack of motivation. "There are a lot of people who certainly would do better if they knew better", says Pamela Everett Thompson, a clinical psychologist, professional life coach. "But quite often my clients' indecisiveness is caused by fear—fear of going against the routine and being rejected by loved ones; of making a mistake; of being less than perfect; even by the fear of success". Thompson has a cure for those paralyzed by fear: "Completion is better than perfection; and most mistakes are correctable".

Lavonne Dorsey, a career and life coach notes that conflicting messages are a common cause of indecisiveness. "We're moving so fast and we're driven so much by others' expectations that we're often not even aware of what we actually want. Most of my clients' indecisiveness stems from a conflict between what they want to do in their heart, what they think they should do in their head and what others want from them". She advises those grappling with conflicting messages to ask themselves what they really want. "Then bring your entire being into the decision-making process — head, heart and intuition*. Prolonged indecisiveness can cause anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression; it can also hamper personal and professional growth and diminish one's quality of life. But you can make that decision and move forward if you're willing to face whatever is getting in your way.

Adapted from Black Enterprise, January 2008