Every day, we make decisions that define who we are and what we want to become. Every decision we make requires courage, and with this courage we can recognize our goals and purpose. Becoming courageous and making decisions can often be intimidating and require us to get out of our comfort zone and be vulnerable. However, this courage will also help us better understand who we are and what we truly want from ourselves and our lives.
Going through life without reflecting on our decisions and what we do with our lives can sometimes be easy and comfortable. Though it may be comfortable, it does not offer the satisfaction or self-efficacy that achieving our goals does. For example, having the same job for years without ever taking a step back to think if this is truly what you want might be easier than changing your career or finding a new job. Still, these difficult decisions will only lead you to become what you truly want to be or what you truly want to do in life. Getting outside of your comfort zone is difficult, but it is also fulfilling to understand what you do and what you want to be in your life.
This does not imply that it will get easier once you become more optimistic about change or make certain hard decisions. On the contrary, making decisions will always be challenging, especially when there are different factors involved or dealing with your decisions' consequences. However, reflecting on your choices is essential to understanding how they shape you and your life. Pushing yourself constantly and making difficult choices with utmost optimism might seem courageous. But it can also lead to the romanticism of the struggle. Therefore, reflecting on the choices you have or the decisions you make daily can be extremely helpful because sometimes the more accessible options are also the better ones, and so, reflecting on your choices can protect you from the burnout of making tough decisions constantly. Being courageous also does not mean you cannot seek support from people around you. It is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength because seeking support and asking for help requires you to be vulnerable. And so, seeking help personally or professionally from your family, friends, colleagues, and boss or even reaching out to a mental health professional can only help you to reach your goal and become what you want to become.
So, How can you make difficult decisions and know what you want to become?
For that, you need to know what makes you happy or what you are passionate about. What brings joy as well as meaning and purpose to your life? This can help you reflect on your current situation and what it is that you can change if needed.
Secondly, take a step back from your regular life or schedule and question what you do not want in your life. This can help you reflect on things that may be preventing you from reaching your goals. Finally, it can make it somewhat easy to know what you want to become. Reflecting on your life and decisions can be difficult and intimidating, but understanding what is holding you back can help you see how you can work through those circumstances or factors to achieve what you want. It is also essential to be realistic with the decisions you make or the goals you set for yourself. Setting a SMART goal can help to set SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, RELEVANT, AND TIME-BOUND goals, which will help you to achieve your goals and make decisions more efficiently, in turn helping you to become more courageous to become who you truly want to be.
By: Dhihum Kour
Mental Health Counseling Intern
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