The Decision of Indecision

I’ve never really been one for indecisiveness and not because I always know what to do or have the right answer. Instead, my choice to make a decision stems from an understanding that not making a decision is a decision and likely the option I have less control over. I found the following quote from Bill W. that sums it up nicely, “Indecision with the passing of time becomes decision”.

Being decisive is a multifaceted state. You’re faced with a decision. You consider the facts, the outcomes, the consequences. You choose. Life goes on. It has been my experience that opportunities to make decisions never stop coming. They’re not like the items on my Monday To-Do List, whereas once I cross it off it is done, gone, I don’t have to worry about it anymore. Opportunities to make decisions keep coming, and they aren’t going to stop. It takes confidence to make decisions, and making decisions builds confidence. Sometimes, it might even take courage to make a decision.

Some decisions are significant and come with great consequences. They require time and patience: time to work through the problem to find the Simplicity on the Far Side of Complexity, and patience to allow facts to surface and conclusions to formulate. Often though, especially with significant decision-making moments, there will be several smaller decisions to be made after the fact, providing ample opportunity to make subtle corrections if needed or to address certain aspects not directly impacted by the initial decision. Overthinking the situation can lead to Paralysis by Analysis, or indecision.

Yes, making a decision can be scary or worrisome. Nobody likes to be wrong or make bad decisions. But like Maimonides said in his quote, “The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision”, or Aaron Burr in his, “Error often is to be preferred to indecision”, indecision is even worse than being wrong. Even Berhard Langer agrees, “Be decisive. A wrong decision is generally less disastrous than indecision”.

After all, like John Ortberg said, “Greatness is never achieved through indecision”. Be great, start by making a decision!