You don't have to move on, but you can't stay here
On making a decision to make a decision
It’s a little like daydreaming in the car and suddenly remembering that you’re the one operating the motor vehicle. Have you really been making all these turns or are you just on the Plinko board of life, falling serpentinely toward your predestined landing spot?
It’s unnerving to think about all the ways life just kind of happens if you let it, but it can also be a turning point. Fear of the unknown is a convincing discourager, and in relationships, jobs, and other daily challenges, saying it’s not that bad to ourselves is comforting enough to keep us running in place instead of starting over.
The region-beta paradox posits that people recover more quickly from distressing experiences than minor inconveniences, and the daily grind of living typically falls in the latter bucket. If the worst thing that happened during the day can be solved by a pint of ice cream and TV written during a writer’s strike, you’ll find ways to get up and do it again tomorrow.
But you don’t have to.
And that recognition can be a small decision to build upon. You don’t have to jump ship right away. You don’t have to rage quit. You can tread water in the uneasiness and think about the best way to turn the rudder.
Making the decision to make the decision is powerful. Because when you’re in tune with your instincts and confident in your ability, you’re back in the captain’s chair, and the next move is yours.