People In A State Of Permanent Indecision

“I do what I do because that’s what I have to do.” You may have heard it said a few times, and it’s a statement that pertains to one of the world’s strongest motivations: duty. We make ourselves act. It is a strong reason to make us do something when we are faced with indecision which can plant the seeds of apathy and disinterest.

Pacifist leader Indira Gandhi once said that you can not be a prisoner of indecision because it leaves all doors open. This is evident from a theory that was later proven by psychology: the more options you have, the more indecisive you become. This state of indecision can lead you down unpleasant paths. Remember that in the long run, passivity is never a good option. Below, we present a few arguments that illustrate this.

Reality is full of decisions

Maybe one day you finished your studies. At some point in your life, you had children, got married, or decided not to share your life with a partner. At one point you chose a job or a friend… All of these decisions are somehow cut into and have shaped your current reality. If you do not believe this is the case,  imagine what your life would be like right now if you had not made any of these decisions. Think about what your life would be like if all these lasting decisions were made for you, by someone else.

Now I would like to suggest another idea. What if your mind, after making a decision, turned into a cooking pad where the bubbles were all the decisions you could have made? Think, for example, of a young person who has decided to study psychology. How would they feel if they subsequently focused their attention on critical thoughts, such as feeling that they should have opted for a more practical education with lower unemployment or better pay?

What happens when you are in a constant state of indecision?

To answer the questions mentioned here, I think it’s a good idea to turn to Tony Robbins’ theories. The famous speaker and coach explains that the main reason for failure is lack of clarity. When Robbins talks about failure, he is not referring to a job or a business deal that did not go well. He says that if we are not determined, we will fail everything, whether it is a friendship, a romantic relationship, a project, a dream…

So Robbins asks, what makes us incapable of making decisions? There are two interesting answers to this question. Let’s look at them:

The fear of being criticized

One reason we suffer from permanent indecision is the fear of criticism. As social beings, we often believe that doing or not doing something is what will please other people.

“If you are influenced by the opinions of others, you have no desire of your own.”
-Napoleon Hill-

Remember now that there are 7 billion people in the world, each one unique, with its own personal opinions. Of course, nothing you do will please so many people! But there will be some who enjoy and are attracted to what you do. So, what other people think should never be a reason for inaction. In fact, Mexican millionaire Carlos Slim sums up this idea in a single sentence: “When you live for the opinions of others, you are dead.”

The fear of failure

Another important reason, according to Robbins, for why we are stuck in inaction is the fear of failure. So it is actually the expectation of failure that makes many people avoid acting.

But really, what’s wrong? Is it the opposite of success? Truly no, it is not. We must learn to live with it, because throughout our lives we will make mistakes and fall many times. But we also learn important lessons that help us try again with more enthusiasm and more knowledge.

For Robbins , failure really does not mean trying. You fail when you do not learn or get up again. According to him, the true mistake is not to be persistent, not to learn, not to take care of every detail, not to take human mistakes into account when making plans, not doing your part, etc.

“If you do not act in life, life will act with you.”
-Robin Sharma-

For this reason, Robbins concludes that permanent indecision is a serious mistake . Immobility leads to mediocrity, fear and unhappiness. Sometimes you will win and other times you will not. But when a relationship or a business deal goes wrong, that does not mean it will always be that way. The past affects the future, but it does not determine it. So stop making excuses, start making decisions, and give it everything you have so you can enjoy the journey wherever fate takes you.