Indecision leads to fatigue. It creates anxiety and agitation by looping back and forth between options. Yet, many people these days feel stuck in indecision because of the uncertainty in the world. If that’s you, this one is for you.

First, you’re not alone. Unpredictability introduces unknowns that affect our decision-making. However, without a decision, you remain stuck longer.

A decision ushers you into a higher energy state of inspiration, clarity, and focused action, which inevitably leads to better results in your finances, health, work, relationships and other life areas.

Quick decision-makers have become indispensable assets in every situation, especially in business. People rally around leaders who make wise, swift, effective decisions that mean the difference between long-term success or perpetual inertia.

So, why do people struggle with indecision? Unfortunately, many people have developed “change challenged” mindsets that affect decision making. Below are various examples of change challenged mindsets and how to overcome them.

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4 change-challenged mindsets of indecisive people

#1. Sweating the small stuff

Change-challenged individuals focus on minute details instead of looking at the bigger picture. To use a common saying, they “miss the forest for the trees.” Minding small details matters. However, if your obsession remains on the minutiae, you ignore critical steps that can move you forward. It’s hard to make a wise, long-term decision when you’re “zoomed in” and not ever looking at the big picture, or where you’re ultimately headed.

#2. Focusing on the negative

A constant worry about making the wrong decision, or offending people with your decision, robs you of the power to make smarter decisions.

#3. Using impossibly narrow criteria in decisions

Change-challenged people use very narrow criteria when making decisions. It limits their options. For example, some people choose jobs based on salary, only to realize that the organization’s culture is a bad fit for them.

#4. Only using the left brain to make decisions

They get lost in using only the left brain; linear, logical, analytical decisions based on past experience. What we’re going through in the world now is unprecedented. Trying to find a solution from the past, is doomed to fail.

Only relying on logic blocks intuition, also known as heart-based knowing or gut-feeling decision making. Our intuition understands factors we can’t access with our logical minds.

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Habits of the change artist

Given the above, how do you transform your change-challenged mindset to making faster, smarter decisions? The secret lies in changing your “mind story”.

Our decision-making habits often form as children and continue on auto-pilot into our adult years. Fortunately, you can change those habits. Your brain defaults to a new mindset when exposed to a calmer, more efficient operation mode.

Transforming your mindset comes down to one simple step: Adopting the habits of a “Change Artist”. Change Artists manage uncertainties with ease. To use a common metaphor, they behave like surfers. They can stay balanced on the waves of change without falling into the white water nor staying behind the waves stuck in indecision.

They are comfortable with the discomfort of constant change.

Let’s face it; change is only speeding up. From government policies to technologies, entire systems face complete disruption. If anything, Covid-19 has taught most people that situations can change overnight.

In these unprecedented times, change-challenged people suffer huge costs. They miss out on great opportunities by making poor decisions that lead to disaster.

However, adopting the habits of Change Artists gives you a fighting chance. For example, here are typical habits that Change Artists have. See if you can relate to any of them:

#1. See the bigger picture

Focusing on the bigger picture counteracts the change-challenged mindset of sweating the small stuff. You can only see the bigger picture if you give yourself regular time out for introspection.

Many people ignore introspection and realize years later that their lives haven’t budged in their desired direction. Unfortunately, it’s hard to make wise decisions when your brain is always stuck in survival mode.

Take some time off, away from distractions and obligations. Even just 30 minutes on a Tuesday afternoon can help you see how all the pieces fit together.

#2. Reframe wrong decisions

Change Artists are masters at reframing wrong decisions. It counteracts the change-challenged habit of negative focus.

Now, of course, bad decisions form an essential part of life. They help you learn and grow. As the old saying goes, “Good judgment comes from experience, which comes from bad judgment.” Indeed, success can only happen through a series of wrong decisions.

However, most people suffer shame, guilt and regret from some of their past wrong decisions. It keeps them stuck.

Yet look at it this way. Every beginner makes lots of mistakes. Whether you’re learning Excel spreadsheets, salsa dancing or public speaking, you’re bound to make mistakes. As such, they are not necessarily mistakes but lessons.

Think about any wrong decisions you’ve made in the past and reframe them as lessons on your journey. List everything you learned from the wrong decision.

Reframing and learning from your mistakes frees you to start moving outside your comfort zone. As John Maxwell once said, “All dreams are outside our comfort zone. Leaving that comfort zone is a price we must pay to achieve them.” You start living a life of purpose, harmony and in alignment with your true self.

#3. Use broader criteria to make decisions

Smart decision-makers view decisions from different lenses and perspectives. To emulate them, create a list of criteria for your decision. For example, if you want to move to a new home, list your ideal criteria for that new home. Each time you consider staying where you are or moving to place A, B or C, run each one through the criteria. You’ll be amazed at the options that start jumping out to you.

#4. Tap into intuition

Finally, Change Artists combine logic with intuition. While objective data and logical criteria yield faster decisions, tapping into your subconscious helps you make wiser decisions that serve in the long term.

If you can tap into the higher mind, you can access a deeper understanding of the situations surrounding your decision. You need to be in a relaxed state with your ideal outcome in mind. Once you see a possible direction that feels right, that’s your intuition at work.

The more you lean on your intuition, the faster you can make complex decisions, especially now as the world changes dramatically.

Final thoughts

Give yourself the gift of decision-making this year. With the simple habits above, you can start making smart decisions quickly.

If you are in a huge life transition and want to seriously reinvent yourself, consider getting the downloadable process called: The Art of Reinvention. It will help you dive deeper into a Change Artist way of viewing decisions and getting clarity on life direction.