It’s holiday time and you are up to your eyebrows in decisions: gifts, turkey or nutroast, gifts, whose house, shoes, gifts, eat in or eat out, heels or flats, parents or in-laws, gifts, pudding or pie, gifts…it goes on and on.  The very thought of another decision can strike fear into the hearts of anyone who is decision shy.

We thought that giving you a little insight into decision making and your own personal style might make the whole thing feel a little less daunting.

As Burnout Queens we have been raised and trained to take decisions very seriously indeed.  We have been led to believe that every decision we make is an important one, that we should always make the ‘right’ choice, we should be able to decide in a speedy and straight forward manner, and (love this one) we should never ever ever be indecisive.  In your ‘sugar plum’ dreams!  How many of you have stood there in a store contemplating ‘the right’gift decision as if world peace rested on it?   We rest our case.

It’s time to debunk the myths.  We can’t have you reaching for the eggnog every time a decision is in sight!  At this jolly time of year, it might lead to…oh dear!  So, here goes:

Numero Uno:

Not every decision is a life or death one.  Truth be the majority of everyday decisions are dull and ordinary.

We don’t even consciously register all of the daily decisions we make, for instance;  get up or stay in bed, feed the kids or let them figure it out, even something as simple as should I get dressed to go to the office?  We don’t really even think of these gazillion tiny, ordinary decisons as decisions, but they are and they add up to making life go tickety-boom.  Not to mention the fact that it wouldn’t be cool to show up at the office in your underwear (lacy and beautiful though it may be!).  So if you are in the habit of going around saying you ‘can’t make decisions’ check again.

Next…

Some poor souls believe they have to make ‘perfect decisions. This is the stuff of pure myth.

We make the best decision we can at the time given our knowledge and circumstance.  If for some reason you change your mind down the road, make another decision, plain and simple.  We know it’s a shocker, but there are no wrong or bad or stupid decisions there are simply decisions.

(We’ll pause here for a moment while those who fell off their chairs regain their decorum!)

Here’s your next ‘ah hah!’

Moments of indecisiveness are completely ‘normal’ if not required as part of the job description of being human.

If anyone insists that they never have a moment of doubt or a wobble we will show you an under-developed human!

Now I suppose at this point we are suppose to list off at least 3 techniques that you can use to beat your indecisiveness.  Yawn!  So not our style.

There is only one truly reliable technique that you can use each and every time.  Flip a coin.  We can sense your horror at the suggestion, but we believe that you know what you want you are just shy about claiming it.  In light of this, flipping a coin makes perfect Burnout Queen sense,  just keep flipping the flipping coin until it comes out the way you want!  Problem solved, buy the shoes!

Decisions exist in every nook and cranny of life.  Oh don’t groan, this is a wonderful thing.

Every decision, big or small, presents a point of opportunity to make a change or take a chance.  Think of decisions as twinkling stars lighting your path to a new universe!  Sorry, got a little carried away there, but it is important to embrace your decisions, exotic or mundane, because decisions hold the seeds of potential that can move your life forward, in a different direction, or towards your dreams.

One last thing, everybody can make decisions.  Now if you are saying ‘not me’ then you must be lying in bed still wearing your Candy Cane pyjamas!  (Not that we are saying there is anything wrong with Candy Cane pyjamas, not at all!)  Darling it is time to stop lying to yourself about not being able to make decisions and become confident about your decision making ability.  You don’t have to be Ms. Cool with every decision you face but you obviously make wise decisions or you wouldn’t already be as fabulous as you are.

So cue the chorus one more time!

• there are no right decisions
• there are no wrong decisions
• there are no perfect decisions
• if you think you won’t make a decision…well you just did.

You are the goddess of your decisions, so name what you want then flip that coin because now you know it’s going to land just the way you want it to!

PS. The BOQs would love to hear from you! Leave your wisdom and comments in the box below.