Decision Making Made Easy

I don't usually set much in store by horoscopes. I enjoy reading them for a bit of light entertainment but I certainly don't take them seriously. That being said - I have a real hard time making decisions, and will weigh up my options and then change my mind a billion times. Such a typical Libran apparently!

But having a hard time making decisions isn't just a Libran thing - I don't think anyone has an easy time making difficult choices, that's why they're difficult right?

Why it's hard to make decisions

The Fear. The fear of making the wrong decisions. Making mistakes can cost us dearly, be that in money, relationships and even our reputations. But that shouldn't hold us back.
"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."George Bernard Shaw

Make Things Easier

Know your choices. Make a list of every possible option, and I mean every option that comes to mind. You're going to narrow them down later anyway. Make sure you approach this step with an open mind, and don't think too much about your options at this point. Just get the ideas down on paper.
Ask around. Ask friends and family what they would do in your situation. It's also worth asking the advice of strangers too, in order to get a completely fresh take on things. I find The Student Room forums great for this, and they have an anonymous posting option if you're a bit shy.
Know the consequences. Be honest about the worst that could happen with each choice. What could you lose, and what could you gain? The most important thing that you have to consider is if you could honestly accept the worse case scenarios. If you know that would be impossible for you, that's an option you can strike off your list!
Trust your intuition. This is the one thing I find hardest to do. Whilst my gut instinct is always present, I sometimes struggle to tap into it to help me make decisions. My way of tricking my intuition out into the open is my making a decision, now, quick-sharp! As soon as I pick an option, I will either feel content or reeally uneasy.
Make your decision! By now you should have ideally knocked off a few options from your list. Whether the decision is instant, or after a few more days - you have all you need to make a good, informed decision. If it's still proving difficult, write your remaining options on post-it notes and stick them to your mirror. One will suddenly look so much more appealing that the others! Promise.

But RememberDon't get too hung up on closing doors. The point of having a decision to make is that you have to chose one route over another. But, the process doesn't just stop when you make your decision. You can continuously re-evaluate, judging how well it's working out for you, and if you ever decide that you made the wrong decision - you'll undoubtedly have other and new options open for you!"Mistakes are always forgiveable, if one has the courage to admit them."Bruce Lee

Have you had to make any difficult decisions recently? What helped you?