The hardest thing about growing up is making tough decisions about our lives. While some decisions may be easier than others, there comes a point where you will be put between a rock and a hard place. Recently, I was put in a difficult predicament in which I had to choose between two very important things in my life. I have never not known what to do in a situation and, for the first time ever, I had absolutely no idea how to move forward. When it comes to those extremely hard decisions that seem like a fork in the road, these three tips should make your life a little easier.
- It’s okay NOT to know the answer.
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During this time in my life when I did not know how to make the right decision, not knowing what to do created incredible stress in my life. I had to sit down with myself and come to terms with the fact that it was okay that I didn’t know the answer. Some things just happen to be out of our control. This realization made me develop other skills that were helpful in making decisions such as pro/con lists and predicting outcomes. With this new skill set, I was able to weigh the outcome of my decision and figure out how to move forward.
- Talking to people helps!
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Sometimes the best way to handle a situation is to talk it out! Talk to your friend, roommate, teacher, adviser, mentor or just anyone who’s willing to listen. On the other hand, expect to receive constructive criticism. I know that after talking to a couple of my advisers, they were direct with me and while it was a little jarring, it was also in my best interest. So, talk to people! Get different perspectives! It’ll help you with that tough decision.
- Acceptance is key.
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Sometimes decisions don’t work out in your favor, and that is just part of life. For me, the hardest part about making a decision is accepting whatever the outcome is gonna be. In order to move forward, you must take your time. I find that journaling about how I feel helps me to process decisions, but with whatever method works for you, moving forward is ultimately the most important step in making tough decisions in college.