If we don’t have options, we feel stuck. If we have too many options, we can also feel stuck. That’s why it’s called the paradox of choice. Some people agonize over making the “right” choice, while others don’t think twice and make the leap impulsively (for better or worse). If you’re reading this, you likely fall in the agonize category.

Picking an outfit for the day is one thing, but bigger life decisions like accepting a new job, ending a relationship, or deciding where to live are another. People often think of indecision as solely a mental problem, but it can be an emotional one as well. Usually, fear interferes, such as fear of regret, fear of hurting or disappointing someone, fear of being judged, fear of the unknown, or fear of not being able to handle the outcome. If fear is paralyzing you, remember that although making no decision might initially feel safer than making the “wrong” one, staying stuck in limbo has its own price. You might lose an opportunity, drain your energy swirling in rumination, or keep suffering through a cruddy relationship.

Mental hang-ups that block making decisions include perfectionism and analysis paralysis. Perfectionists tend to have all-or-nothing thinking, believing there’s one right answer and that choosing wrong would be catastrophic or indicate they’re a flawed person. Others struggle with analysis paralysis, endlessly gathering information in hopes that enough data will give them the certainty they crave. Although choices carry some risk, here are ways to make the best of these inevitable pivot points in life.

Set a Decision Deadline

Rather than a wishy washy pace of “someday” or “when I’m ready…” give yourself a specific deadline like “Monday at noon.” Deadlines can create productive pressure and prevent endless deliberation. Try setting a timer for five minutes on small decisions (which helps practice your decision-making muscle, as explained below).

Limit Your Options

Having too many choices can actually plague us more than we think. If you’re overwhelmed by all the possibilities, narrow your options to two or three. This makes comparison more manageable and reduces mental fatigue.

Practice Discernment

Speaking of comparison, try these discernment steps: (1) Make a list of pros and cons for option A versus option B; (2) Ask yourself, “What would I tell a friend who was in this same scenario?”; (3) Imagine you’re at the end of your days (on your deathbed, so to speak) looking back on your life: Which choice would you prefer your younger self had made?

Connect to Your Values

I’m a big fan of helping my clients live in accordance with their values. Tuning into our values helps us make a decision from a place of integrity. Brainstorm a list of your top five values (honesty, adventure, authenticity, curiosity, kindness, to name a few) and then see how each of your choices aligns with what you value at this time in your life.

Accept “Good Enough”

Perfectionism tells us there’s only one “right” choice. But in most situations, several options could work out just fine. Practice choosing something that’s good enough rather than holding out for the perfect time, place, person, or opportunity. And keep in mind that many decisions are more reversible than you might think.

Build Your Decision-Making Muscle

Start small by making quick, low-stakes choices like what to order, what to wear, which route to take, etc. Each small decision you make without overthinking strengthens your ability to be decisive when the stakes are higher.

Bottom line is, we simply don’t know how our decisions will turn out in advance. That’s the challenge and the mystery of the process! If only we had guarantees, but life doesn’t work that way. But what I can guarantee is that if you never face your decision fears, you’ll never move forward.

This is where self-compassion and self-trust come in. Making decisions and coping with what unfolds can build resilience and self-confidence. The cherry on top is the acquired wisdom and courage you’ll feel as you face future decisions. Every day, you get to be the architect of your life. Now start designing, one choice at a time.