Wise up - Jordan Harbinger

When you don’t know what to do in a given situation, oftentimes the best thing you can do is to just do something.

Why?

Because doing something — even if it’s not right or perfect or brilliantly executed — has a way of cutting through paralysis.

Doing something also removes the anxiety of an open loop. It eliminates the tension of not having made a decision at all. Which can be debilitating.

And oftentimes, the consequences of your choice — even if it’s the “wrong” one — change the equation in a way that’s incredibly helpful.

Suddenly, you’re dealing with new data, new possibilities. You have a new confidence, a fresh motivation. By taking a stance, you’ve kicked up new information — about yourself, about another person, about your life — that you didn’t have when you were twiddling your thumbs.

In my experience, the right move tends to become pretty clear soon after.

So if you’re spending weeks trying to decide which cities to visit on your upcoming vacation, choose one and let your trip take shape.

If you’re sitting on an important email because you can’t decide when to send it, fire it off and trust that whatever happens will move you closer to your goal.

If you’re stuck in a flawed relationship and can’t decide whether it’s time to end it, try taking a break for a couple weeks and see how you feel.

I promise that you won’t have less clarity after making a decision (yes, even if it’s the ‘wrong’ one).

You can only gain more insight by pulling the trigger.

But as with most important things in life, this isn’t about getting it “right.”

This is about being in a process that will eventually lead you to the best possible outcome.

It might take days. It might take weeks. It might take years.

But if you keep making clear choices, if you keep studying the data you get back, if you keep listening to what your choices are trying to tell you, you will always get closer to the outcome you really need.

So when you’re feeling stuck, I want you to try something simple.

Make a choice, rather than the choice.

zen habits