Making Decisions

Previously, I wrote a blog post on "not caring about what others think about you." To build on that topic, I was inspired this week by a recent event in my life to write about making decisions—everything from small choices to big scenarios that may cause chain reactions, good or bad.

Sometimes I wish I could live in a world where no one would ever rely on me to make a choice. I never trust myself enough to make the right decision, and always regret it because I have no faith in myself from the start. Half of it is my worry of others judging me for deciding on what I did. All of the "listening to my heart" stuff goes away, and I'm left stressing over something that isn't always that important.

Decisions almost always end up affecting others in whatever problem is present. That can make the process harder, especially if it's already difficult on its own for you. In this case, your trust and instinct fall on others, and you lose sight of your end of the situation. Exactly what should be avoided.

I have a close friend, an inspiring woman to dear to me, who encountered this problem during the past week. The decision she was obligated to make was not a small one, and it affected my close group of friends greatly and a few others who were involved. She was faced with a problem that brought the pain of saying goodbye to something that meant so much to her and us, but most of her worries were that we would be angry at her for choosing to make the choice that was both right for her and the situation—as upsetting as it was.

The right choice caused confusion, hurt feelings, and anger from others. Through it all, the one thing I hoped that she would remember was to care about herself, because she wasn't doing it enough. All of that time weighing out the pros and cons of the problem built more anxiousness on how our group of friends would feel, and the answer slowly grew more distant.

In the end, as much sorrow and loss it caused, she chose to say goodbye to the thing she needed to let go of. In the end, she knew how sad it would make her, but she didn't lose sight of what she felt was right, and pursued it.

Her choice disappointed others. Did she care? She didn't need to.

Because she was the only person that needed to confirm her choice, and she knew that she thought it over as much as she could. And I think that's an inspiring lesson that many can learn from. I did.

-Chloe