How to Make Big Decisions Easier (And Actually Feel Good About Them)
August 2025 / anastasiia skurtul
We’ve all been there: standing at the crossroads of a decision that feels bigger than you. The kind where your chest tightens, your brain won’t stop spinning, nothing feels clear. Do you take the new job? Invest in your idea? Say yes to the move?
Decision-making is part of everyday life, but when the stakes are high, it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. The good news? There are ways to take the fear out of decision-making and move forward with clarity and confidence.
Why Big Decisions Feel So Hard
When faced with a big choice, most people get stuck for two reasons:
Fear of Regret - “What if I make the wrong choice and ruin everything?”
Information Overload - Too many options, too many opinions, too many what-ifs.
This combination leaves us paralyzed, and instead of moving forward, we stall out. But here’s the truth: there’s no perfect decision. There are only choices, lessons, and opportunities.
A Simple Framework for Easier Decisions
You don’t need to overcomplicate things. Here’s a practical way to approach tough choices:
- Step 1: Define What Actually Matters
Strip it down. What are your top 3 values or priorities in this season of life? Family? Growth? Stability? Use these as your filter.
- Step 2: Look at the Worst-Case Scenario
Fear grows in the unknown. Ask yourself: “If this doesn’t go as planned, can I handle it?” 9 times out of 10, the worst-case isn’t nearly as bad as your brain makes it out to be.
- Step 3: Ask Future You
Picture yourself 5 years from now. Which decision would you thank yourself for? Which one would you regret not trying?
- Step 4: Decide, Then Commit
Indecision drains more energy than the wrong decision ever will. Once you decide, throw your weight behind it and give yourself permission to move forward.
3 Frameworks That Simplify Decision-Making
If you want to cut through the noise, try these simple tools:
1. The 10-10-10 Rule
Ask yourself: How will I feel about this decision in 10 days? 10 months? 10 years? This pulls you out of short-term panic and helps you see the bigger picture.
2. Pro/Con with a Twist
Yes, list the pros and cons, but then go deeper. What is the opportunity cost of not moving forward? Sometimes the “risk” of acting is far less than the risk of staying still.
3. Pilot, Don’t Gamble
Not every decision has to be all-or-nothing. Test small. Run a pilot program, soft-launch a product, or try a partnership on a short-term basis. Small steps can reveal whether a big leap is worth it.
The Decisions We Fear Often Lead to Growth
Think about a time in your life when you were scared to make a choice - maybe leaving a job, starting something new, or saying yes to an opportunity that felt “too big.” At the time, it probably felt risky. But looking back, it likely taught you something or opened a door you didn’t see coming.
That’s the hidden beauty of decision-making: even “wrong” choices move us forward. They teach us resilience, adaptability, and courage.
The decisions that scare us the most are usually the ones with the power to change our lives for the better. Don’t let fear of failure keep you stuck. Trust yourself, take the leap, and remember: clarity comes from action, not overthinking.