5 Ways to Gain Clarity When Making Decisions

You know the feeling. You have a decision to make and you're not sure what you should do. No matter how much you turn the situation over in your head, you can't figure out what's best. Your mind becomes muddled, confused, and overwhelmed; or you draw a complete blank. 

Here are five ways to untangle yourself from all the confusion, gain clarity, and activate forward motion when you're struggling to make a decision and the solution seems far off.

---

Tip #1:  Sleep on it; or at least take a break.

Sometimes, you just need to step away from the problem for a while and give it time to percolate in your subconscious mind. When you come back to the situation, you're able to look at it with fresh eyes and a clearer perspective.  

Sleeping on the problem is ideal, as you have the entire night for your subconscious to work on it. But stepping away and shifting your focus to something else even briefly will also help. Get outside for some fresh air, go for a workout, listen to some music, or spend some time working on your favourite hobby. When you return to the situation, something may jump out at you that you weren't seeing before.
 

Tip #2:  Make a list of the pros and cons.

What happens when you're facing a situation where you need to choose from more than one option and you're struggling to narrow things down? How do you determine which option is best? Making a list of all the pros and cons will help you gain clarity by giving you more information to work with.   

Simply write down the different options you're considering, and list the pros and cons for each one. Taking the time to write everything down in detail allows you to look at each option more clearly and objectively. You can see and compare all the benefits, as well as all the costs and trade-offs, and it becomes easier to see which option stands out over the others. 

Having a list of pros and cons will also come in handy with tip #3 below.
 

Tip #3:  Identify your priorities based on your own values.

Your decision needs to make sense to you; it needs to fit with who you are and align with your personal values. This is why prioritizing is so important. In making your decision, what matters most to you?  

If you have a pros and cons list, prioritize the items from most important to least important based on your values. A certain course of action might make total sense for someone else, but not for you based on your values. 

This exercise is especially useful if you're feeling pressured, influenced, or swayed  by anyone else's opinion, as it helps you get tuned in to what you genuinely want.
 

Tip #4:  Work it out in writing.
 
As you mull things over in your head, it can start to feel as if you're going in circles, spinning your wheels and getting nowhere. Writing things out is a great way to sort through all the mental clutter. The writing process enables you to get unstuck and start organizing your thoughts in a clear, coherent fashion. 

Give yourself permission to write down whatever you're thinking and feeling. As you engage in the self-reflection necessary to capture your inner world on paper, you'll be amazed at how much gets revealed and clarified in the process. Answers will often appear seemingly from nowhere, and you'll begin to gain insight into what you're feeling, where you stand, what really matters, and ultimately what you should do.
 
 
Tip #5:  Listen to what your body is telling you.
 
This last tip is one many people ignore, yet it may well be the most important one of all. As you work on making your decision, pay attention to how your body is responding. 

As you consider a particular course of action, how do you feel inside? Do you feel a sense of excitement and an eagerness to proceed?  Does your body feel strong and energized? This kind of bodily response is typically an indication that the decision you're moving towards is a good fit for you, allowing you to move forward with confidence and clear resolution. That doesn't necessarily mean everything will be easy or that it will all turn out perfectly. However, you're far more likely to feel good about having gone down that road, no matter what the outcome is.  

And what if your feelings are more on the negative side as you consider certain options? Do you feel a sense of hesitancy, dread, perhaps even foreboding? At any point do you feel a tightness in your stomach? Pay attention to anything that makes you feel unsettled, heavy, or perhaps even physically ill, as these are all obvious signals that no matter how well you're able to rationally justify a decision rationally, something is amiss.


Takeaway

No-one wants to feel stuck and unclear when it's time to make a decision. When you find yourself in that situation, ease the pressure by experimenting with these tried and true methods for gaining the clarity you need.