Playing the what if game

Have you ever been tormented by the thought of making the wrong decision? What if I were to tell you there are no wrong decisions, just different outcomes, would that make it easier to break through?

We have a choice - we are faced with a or b, but what happens if the one you choose should go wrong - how will you ever cope? This is the no-win scenario - whatever choice you make you are going to beat yourself up over the decision. I knew I should have gone with the other choice. See I told you it would go wrong ...

But if you consider that there are no wrong decisions, just different outcomes - you can imagine how liberating that is. Liberating because it means you can make changes to your current circumstances knowing you can handle whatever comes your way as a result of your choice.

Jim was told he had to follow in his father's footsteps and work in the family firm. Jim dutifully went to business school, studied hard and qualified - then went to work every day in his suit and tie hating every minute of it. Jim had always dreamed of being a teacher, but he knew his father wouldn't help pay his tuition fees if he went to teachers college - so he did his job and hated every minute of it.

I'm sure you can relate to Jim - what would you have done in his shoes? What should Jim have done? What should Jim do now?

Well in this particular case there aren't just 2 options open to Jim. Stay where he is and be miserable or chuck it in and go back to school and have his father disinherit him. Nope, there are many options. Go to night school, take distance learning modules, offer to teach business modules to his fellow workers, or approach the local college with a proposal for a course he would like to run. What is holding him back? HE is. Everything that could possibly go wrong is running through his mind leaving him completely stuck.  And as a result, he can't see the many options that are open to him.

Next time you are faced with making a decision - difficult or otherwise, get out your paper and pen and write down the pros and cons of each option. If you can't think of any - then imagine you are giving your best friend some advice. Just remember 2 things -

1) whatever happens - you can handle it. And
2) there are no wrong decisions, just different outcomes.

With many thoughts

Elle