Embracing the Zig and the Zag: The Power of Your Decisions

Making decisions can sometimes feel like standing at the edge of a cliff, wondering if you’re about to make a glorious leap… or a very awkward tumble. We've all been there—paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong choice. What if I zig when I should have zagged? What if the decision I make turns out to be the wrong one? It’s a question that can keep you up at night, leaving you second-guessing yourself at every turn.

I’ve felt this way more times than I’d like to admit. Whether it was a career move, a personal decision, or just choosing what to have for dinner, there were moments when I let that fear stop me in my tracks. Instead of making a choice, I let life decide for me—like hitting the shuffle button on a playlist and hoping for the best. Spoiler alert: that’s not exactly a winning strategy.

Here’s the thing: not making a decision is making a decision. You’re letting life happen to you rather than taking charge of your own direction. When you leave decisions up to chance, you’re forfeiting control of your path and missing out on opportunities to actively shape your future.

There’s a quote by Theodore Roosevelt that resonates with this idea: "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." It’s a reminder that taking action, even if it’s imperfect, is better than doing nothing at all. And if the outcome isn't ideal, you can always make another one to change it—back to where you started or down a completely different road.

Life is full of infinite decisions, and each one leads you down a path. But that's the beauty of it—you get to keep making decisions, learning, and adapting along the way. Every choice is an opportunity to shape your journey, take control of your direction, and create the life you want.

In my own experience, there were times when I let indecision take the wheel, and it wasn't long before I felt like I was just along for the ride, not steering the car. But here's the truth I've come to embrace: making a decision—any decision—gives you the power to direct your life. It allows you to take control, learn from the outcome, and keep moving forward.

So, next time you find yourself stuck in the loop of "what ifs," remember this: it's okay to make a decision, even if it's tough. You can always learn and adapt from the results, and making a decision puts you back in charge of your story. After all, nobody wants to be that person stuck at the crossroads forever—especially when there's a whole world out there waiting to be explored, zigzags and all.

References

Roosevelt, T. (1900). The strenuous life: Essays and addresses. Century.

Schwartz, B. (2004). The paradox of choice: Why more is less. Harper Perennial.

Frankl, V. E. (2006). MMan'ssearch for meaning. Beacon Press. (Original work published 1946)