Why Do We Struggle to Make Choices?

You've probably noticed in the modern world, where information is readily available, and there are countless opportunities, it's challenging to make decisions. Every day, we have to make choices, both in everyday matters and more significant, life-defining ones.

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The main difficulty in making choices lies in the fact that when we choose one thing, we give up something else, which we don't select. So, choosing means not only gaining one possibility but also losing another. And our minds tend to perceive losses more sharply and remember them longer than gains. Feeling the loss of even a potential opportunity can be unpleasant and draining. This is why we often want to "sit on two chairs," trying to choose everything at once, even when it's impossible. This can lead to frustration and sometimes feeling paralyzed, unable to make a decision.

Take a piece of paper and draw a square, dividing it into four smaller squares with lines. In the top-right square, write "What will happen if I do it (if it happens)," and in the top-left square, write "What will happen if I don't do it (if it doesn't happen)." In the bottom-right square, write "What won't happen if I do it (if it happens)," and in the bottom-left square, write "What won't happen if I don't do it (if it doesn't happen)."

Now, think about your situation and write down all the possible options in each square. You can write them down gradually, not necessarily all at once. When you've listed everything, take a look at the whole table. This way, you'll visually see all the pros and cons of each course of action, making it much easier to make a decision.