Have you ever struggled with a tough decision? At times in the past, I have found myself frozen with indecision when an important choice arose. I worried if I would make the right choice–and found myself immobilized instead. I didn’t trust myself and my ability to make a decision.
Last night I faced one of “those” decisions. I had a media tour of Door County, Wisconsin planned. I was looking forward to ice fishing for my first time, seeing the Green Bay and Lake Michigan in all their winter glory, and touring the peninsula exploring the arts, spirits, and food scene. Mother Nature, though, provided a quandary.
I was to depart from Kansas City at 6ish a.m. this morning where an ice storm was predicted overnight. Not only was Kansas City in the line of this storm, but Minneapolis, where I would have a two-hour layover, was slated for ice and snow. Then, Green Bay, where I would land, had a 100 percent chance of ice and later snow throughout the day. Our group would have an hour or so drive from the airport to the lodging in Egg Harbor. There was a lot to consider.
What I realized last night was that I needed to make a decision and stick with it. That any decision would be the “right” decision. It freed me up from the back and forth paralysis of wondering what would be the correct choice. Should I risk my life for a short visit? Would I regret not going? What if I stayed at a hotel close to the Kansas City airport, but then was snowed in there? What…what…what… It was exhausting.
So I made a choice. I decided to cancel my flight. The airline had already sent an email stating that, because of the imminent weather, I could cancel without a fine. I made my decision and went back to bed with a clear mind. Of course, I checked the status of my flight when I woke up this morning. The first flight left Kansas City only 30 minutes delayed; however, the next flight from Minneapolis–at the moment–is two hours delayed and holding. So who knows when I would have arrived in Green Bay–and the struggles with road conditions there.
I know I made the right choice for myself. Even if I could have gotten safely to the airport in Kansas City, such a rough travel day would not have been worth the two short days of activities in Door County. And although I do not regret my decision, I am still disappointed to miss out on the opportunity. But there’s always next time. And for now, I am safe and warm and content as I sit snowed in at home.
Does anyone else struggle with indecision? How do you know you’ve made the right choice?
Jill Dutton | Travel Journalist 
Great post! I would have made he same decision with no struggle. Ice always wins. Yes, I do struggle over decisions. I have settled on a kind of personal protocol that involves a balance of intuition and critical thinking. Typically, one red flag/challenge is something through which to proceed with caution and to overcome; two red flags/challenges require a big flashing green light or “divine sign” to proceed with caution and faith my way through. Three or more red flags/challenges are simply a no-go for me. Intuition has veto power over logic, even at the risk that I may be mistaking irrational fear for intuition. I am not a thrill seeker, though.
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I love your decision-making requisites, Helen. I never thought of it that way. Thank you for sharing!
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Hi Jill: If I’m not going to be able to sit on the plane and answer the following question in the affirmative and say, “Hell yes!”…Then I’m not going to get on the plane.
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If I’m not going to be able to sit on the plane and answer the following question (Is my life worth this trip?) in the affirmative with a resounding “Hell yes!” …then I’m not going to be getting on the plane.
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Ooops. I liked the 2nd one best.
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