Working with ‘creative indecision’ to make difficult decisions

All too often, when faced with making a difficult life-changing decision we can over analyse our situation and become ensnared in ‘analysis paralysis’. We become so confused by the plethora of factors and options and so worried about the consequences of making the wrong decision that we freeze and find it increasingly difficult to make a clear decision. This sometimes results in dithering, putting off the inevitable, or making a rushed decision to escape the uncertainty.

This 10-step process aims to break down the process into manageable stages and stimulates the all-important process of creative thinking or ‘creative indecision’, as I prefer to call it.

10 steps to overcome analysis paralysis

1. Establish a deadline

Where possible, give yourself a realistic date by which you'd like to make the decision. This can stop the process from continuing indefinitely.

2. Think creatively about the future

Most ideas are not very good, so the best way to get a good idea is to generate lots of ideas. Before moving into structured analysis, give yourself space to think more freely. Rather than immediately making lists and evaluating every idea, try exploring the situation without judging the possibilities too quickly.

Here are some creative activities to free up your thinking regarding the decision you need to make:

• brainstorming
• drawing pictures to explore the present and desired futures
• listening to your metaphors

We use metaphors very frequently in our everyday speech, sometimes without noticing them. The metaphors we use can sometimes offer clues about how we're experiencing a situation. Some commonly used metaphors include:

• "light at the end of the tunnel"
• "flogging a dead horse"
• "the elephant in the room"
• "left high and dry"
• "point of no return"
• "slippery slope"

So, having heard yourself using a metaphor about your situation, try asking yourself:

• "What kind of X………. is that?"
• "What does being like X…….. feel like?"
• "Is there anything else about X…....?"
• "What happens just before X…….?"
• "What happens just after X……?"

By asking yourself questions about the metaphors you use, you might notice thoughts or feelings about the situation that you hadn't previously put into words and unlock your thinking about the decision.

I believe that creative thinking is a vital precursor to more structured and coherent thinking about important life-changing decisions. It is a stage that can be revealing and also fun, so it is worth sticking at it and pushing ideas, even to the point of absurdity, to see where they end up. Go with the flow and try to maintain an open mind.

3. Consider your values

Choose three words that someone who knows you well would use to describe you. Also, make a list of your values as you see them. What does the description of you tell you about your motivations and the decision to be made?

4. List options

Now, having undertaken some creative thinking about your future and considering your values, you might be thinking about the decision in a different manner. So, now make a tentative list of potential decisions, and try to be open-minded and include even ‘wacky’ options.

5. Information gathering

Having created a list of potential decisions, it is time to get practical and start gathering the information you need. For each option ask yourself:

• "What do I need to know?"
• "Why do I need to know this?"
• "How do I go about finding it?"

6. Weigh up the risks and benefits

This is an important decision which could result in life-changing consequences, both good and bad. So you need to ask yourself the following questions:

• "How serious would it be if I made the wrong decision?"
• "What are the benefits of making the right decision?"
• "How bad is the worst outcome?"
• "How likely is the worst outcome?"

7. Weigh up the pros and cons

For each potential decision, draw up a list of pros and cons, then carefully consider the lists and weigh up the positives and negatives of each outcome.

8. Make a decision

Now this is the tough bit. At some point, after gathering and considering the information available to you, you'll need to make a decision. Remember that making a decision is often an uncomfortable process, so accept that some uncertainty may remain and give it a go.

9. Check in with your decision

Now that you've made a tentative decision, notice how you respond to it. Does it fit with your values and what you've learnt through the previous steps? Is any discomfort telling you something important, or is it simply the uncertainty that comes with making a significant change?

Yes, it still feels like the right direction: go to stage 10.

No, something important doesn't fit: review the relevant previous steps.

10. Action plan

Assuming that you wish to proceed with your decision, an action plan is required. Here are some questions you could ask yourself:

• "What needs to happen now?"
• "What is the timescale?"
• "What could cause problems?"
• "How can I get around these problems?"
• "How can I reduce or manage the risks of this decision?"

Big decisions are rarely easy, and no process can remove all uncertainty. But breaking the decision down into stages can help you move from overthinking towards a choice you've considered from several different angles.

Good luck!