To commemorate their 40th wedding anniversary, my parents made arrangements for a cruise, originally set to sail in April 2020. Unsurprisingly, this romantic journey was postponed to 2021, and then once more to 2022.
Fast forward to January 2022, and I found myself in the midst of an intense verbal exchange, one I wouldn’t have anticipated from two people about to celebrate four decades of wedded bliss.
Should we go ahead with it? Or not? Will there be mask mandates? Are people really vaccinated? And what did Jill and John decide? What if we go and end up stranded on the ship? Or what if we catch some bizarre strain? Shall we just scrap the whole plan? What happens to our deposit? What alternatives do we have? Will THOSE options be safer?!
Whether it’s an anniversary getaway, a birthday excursion, an annual conference, or a holiday journey that has been repeatedly scratched from our calendars, we have all felt the impact of having our decision-making ability suspended.
With persistent risk evaluations, disrupted routines, and ever-changing parameters affecting even the simplest choices, many of us find that every minor decision becomes more than just challenging—it is utterly draining. A 2021 study by the American Psychological Association revealed that nearly one-third of adults (32%) feel so overwhelmed by the coronavirus crisis that they have difficulty making fundamental choices, like what to wear or eat.
As the ground beneath us continually shifts and regulations are rewritten almost daily, a lot of us are dealing with the consequences of unrelenting uncertainty. Fortunately, there’s an underappreciated quality we can all rekindle to help regain our pre-pandemic decision-making skills: audacity.
What if a dash of audacity is just what we need to rebuild our self-confidence in our choices and revive our trust in ourselves? The next time you find it hard to make a decision, consider trying one of these five audacity boosters to break free from your pandemic-induced paralysis and reclaim your decision-making expertise.
Confront Your Misguided Fears
Frequently, our fears are based on misleading narratives that are neither factual nor conducive to progress. The next moment you feel overwhelmed by dread, take a step back and assess your reasoning. Are you dealing with objective truths or your personal feelings? Creating a list that distinguishes facts from feelings can be more empowering than a simple pro and con list, aiding your assertiveness and helping you navigate through tricky situations.
Release Your Inner Rule-Follower
In more stable times, being the rule-abiding kid was often rewarded. However, when the rules are continuously shifting and those in charge lack a clear guideline, it may be wiser to grant yourself permission to chart your own course.
Tune Out to Tune In
We’ve all been told that being a great listener is a prized trait. Yet, in a world inundated with constant digital noise that affects our daily lives, listening too intently can sometimes be detrimental. Streamline your news intake by unfollowing sources that foster doubt and increase anxiety.
Transform Jealousy into Inspiration
We’re frequently conditioned to view jealousy as a negative emotion to be shunned. While unhealthy comparisons can diminish our happiness, not all competition is harmful. Paying attention to those fleeting feelings of admiration—“Good for them, now it’s my turn”—can clarify the decisions you genuinely want to pursue. When managed wisely, jealousy can serve as a valuable compass.
Equip Yourself to Avoid Inaction
During these unpredictable times, we often experience doubts we didn’t face pre-pandemic. When we feel uncertain about our instincts and how to move forward, these are the moments to equip ourselves. Can you lean on someone else’s strengths as a stepping stone to help you take that crucial first step? Equipping yourself doesn’t imply imitating someone else but rather involves observing those in your circle who seem to navigate decisions effectively and absorbing their clarity.
Amid chaos, you need not undermine your self-worth. You also don’t have to resort to the same old advice you’ve always considered sound. You can think, feel, and act with boldness; reigniting your momentum with your own audacity—even if that boldness sometimes takes you by surprise.
