Life calls on us to make decisions. And the way we decide makes a difference to our lives, now and in the future. And yet many times, we either take just too long, putting it off for as long as we can, or we live in denial, not making a decision and hoping life will sort itself out.

Three factors that help us become decisive are clarity, courage and faith.

Sometimes clarity doesn’t come easily. The solution is not in avoiding making a decision. The solution lies in deeply listening. When we allow ourselves to be guided by our inner voice, or someone we implicitly trust, we are able to understand and assess situations much better. And we will intuitively know the way ahead.

Our intuition needs the backing of courage to move ahead. The thought may be very strong and we may be clear what the right step is, yet we stop at the altar of deciding. It is courage that helps us cross the threshold of just knowing, to deciding.

The mind will want certainty. In a world that itself is uncertain, deciding only on certainty is living in a fool’s paradise. Of course we must take care, use best judgement, and act in good faith. But when we lack inner faith and courage, the mind can easily trick us and we end up spending endless time gathering information to decide. Diligence is good, delay is not.

It is better to decide and get it wrong a few times than not decide at all. Because once we lower our boat in the river, and steer it with faith and courage, even if we are going up the wrong stream, life will take care of us. We will reach the ocean we are meant to be in.

( Picture – Flowers from Butchard Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia Canada )