Word To The Wise... Our Good Words To Live By Series Continues

Today's "Word to the Wise" is one that hits pretty close to home for me;

abulia \uh-BOO-lee-uh; uh-BYOO-\, noun:
Loss or impairment of the ability to act or to make decisions.

I chronically suffer from lack of ability to make decisions, whether it be what to order for dinner or what job offer to take.

I imagine many other people have this problem, so I'd like to try and get to the root of it.

Perhaps people take a long time/find it impossible to make decisions because they are worried the choice they make is utterly permanent.


I worry that if I order the chicken pot pie, and it turns out to be disgusting, there's nothing I can do about it and must eat the whole thing. Or I'm concerned if I take this job because it pays well, but I end up hating it, that I'm stuck in it because I have no other choice.


But we must remember that there's a solution to everything. If you don't like the chicken, send it back and order something else. If you hate the job, put in your resignation and start looking for another one. Life's too short to be choking down things you're not in love with.


It's important to know, however, that the quicker you get out of a bad decision the better. If you let yourself steep in it, you will then get too involved and your optimum chances to change your situation will slip away like sand through your fingers.


Making decision comes down to one thing; knowing what you want. Although it sounds simple enough, it's incredibly hard to pin down what you think will make you happiest in the long run. What you're interested in right now might not be the same thing in five years, or hell, even five minutes.


I find it helpful to live in the now. That way, you're always happiest. Don't stress about the future too much, because there are always ways to fix a problem.


Your decisions are not as permanent as you may think. And that's enough to put me at ease--at least until dinner tonight.

Holley Simmons reporting!