Say Goodbye to “What Ifs” and Hello to “I Did It!”: Embracing Bold Choices (Decision Making, Risk Taking)

Discussing Risk Taking and Decision Making is the goal of this post.  I mean, how many times have you found yourself staring into the abyss of “what if?” What if I took that job? What if I said yes to that date? What if I finally told Brenda her casserole is… well, unique? We’ve all been there, stuck in a mental hamster wheel of possibilities that never actually happen.

But guess what? Life’s too short for “what ifs.” It’s time to grab the reins, ditch the doubts, and shout a resounding “HECK YES!” to bold choices. Think of it as upgrading your life from black and white to glorious Technicolor. Ready to paint your world with some daring decisions? Let’s go!

5 Ways to Kiss Those “What Ifs” Goodbye (Like They Just Borrowed Your Favorite Lipstick Without Asking):

Decision Making & Risk Taking Made Easy…

1.  Name Your Fear Monster (and Then Giggle at Its Tiny Size): That nagging voice whispering all the reasons not to do something? That’s your fear monster. Give it a silly name – “Herb”, Brenda’s Casserole Monster, whatever tickles your fancy. Suddenly, it feels a lot less intimidating. Seriously, try it. “Oh, hey “Herb,” still worried I’ll trip on stage? Cute.”

***I like to call things out in my head: for instance if someone judges me out loud, “in my head, ‘I state, Judger.’   Or if someone overshares, “I think, ‘Boundaries.”  I try to call out bad and positive behavior in my head – it helps me.  Try it yourself.

2.  Channel Your Inner Badace from a Movie Montage: Remember those scenes where the underdog trains hard and finally triumphs? Yeah, that’s you. Visualize your bold move as your personal power anthem moment. Cue the inspiring music! Even if your “triumph” is just ordering the spiciest thing on the menu, own it like you just saved the world.  Visualizing is so important to manifesting our desired end result!

***For me, this is picturing my desired end result.  Isn’t this what faith is?  Romans 4:17 instructs us like Abraham to call those things, though they are not, as though they were.  Mark 11:22-26 instructs us to speak to our mountains.  In the same way, let’s dream in faith!  See ourselves accomplishing those goals!  Picture our dream life.  Now, for a double dose of manifestation – speak it forth!  Matthew 12 tells us, out of the abundance of the heart, our mouth speaks.

3.  Reframe “Failure” as “Fabulous Learning Opportunity”: Okay, things might not always go exactly as planned. Shocking, I know. But instead of wallowing in “I knew it!”, think of it as collecting data. What did you learn? What would you do differently next time? Consider it a masterclass in life, taught by experience. Plus, you’ll have a great story to tell.  Two marriages have been long data collections for me – lol!

*** Instead of seeing failures as dead ends, I think of them as great beginnings.  So what if the first or even 18th try didn’t work.  Muster up some strength, change the approach and try, try again.  Failures support the fact that we are alive and trying.  Each of us fail sometimes.  Dust off the knees and go again.

4.  Zoom Out and Look at the Big Picture (Spoiler Alert: Most “Mistakes” Aren’t Catastrophic): In the grand scheme of things, will this decision matter in a year? In five years? Probably not as much as you think. We tend to blow things out of proportion in the moment. Take a deep breath, zoom out, and realize that most “oopsies” are just tiny blips on your amazing life radar.

***This is a tough one for me.  I am a details girl.  Often focusing on the event, comes naturally to me.  But I have to remember life is more about the journey than the destination.  Big picture for me is not just being present today, but also preparing for the future.  If we are present and plan, making the big picture (the whole jig saw puzzle), come together piece by piece, we can’t go wrong.

5.  Just Freakin’ Do It (with a Wink and a Prayer): Sometimes, overthinking is the enemy of awesome. Turn off your brain’s endless debate club and just take the leap. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be done. You can always course-correct later. Think of it as a thrilling adventure – a little bit scary, a whole lot exciting.

***It’s easier to steer a moving ship!  Sometimes the first step is the most difficult.  Stepping out never feels comfortable.  I personally, have never regretted when I have taken the first scary step.  Whether it was jumping off a diving board, driving a new car, or starting some wildly important gig, I find great pleasure after taking that difficult first step.  I bet you find accomplishments like this fulfilling too!

Just a smattering more on this topic.  You may want to check out: Make Today Count by John Maxwell.  It is an incredibly powerful read.  Regret never comes after reading John Maxwell’s content!

5 Ways to Say a Big, Bold “Hello!” to Decision Making (Like You’re Greeting a Long-Lost Bestie):

Decision Making & Risk Taking Made Easy…

1.  Embrace Your Inner Detective: Gather Intel (But Don’t Over-Snoop): Before making a big decision, do your homework. Weigh the pros and cons. Talk to trusted friends (the ones who won’t just tell you what you want to hear). But set a time limit! Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis. Even Sherlock Holmes had to make a move eventually.

***Jesus says in Luke 14 to count the cost.  I switched up attending Bible Schools, mostly because the smaller one was closer to home and less expensive.  Regretting counting that cost (literally)?  Regret from that choice has never come.  I recommend thinking things through, especially big commitments for at least a few days before diving in.  Preparation time is never wasted time.

2.  Trust Your Gut (It’s Usually Wearing Fierce Lipstick): That little voice inside? It’s often wiser than you think. Learn to listen to your intuition. Does a certain option feel exciting or draining? Your gut can provide valuable clues, even if your brain is busy making spreadsheets.  This is often the Holy Spirit’s guidance!

***The Holy Spirit’s Guidance puts us over!  He has spoken to me vividly in dreams many times, keeping me from marrying one man.  Other times the Spirit has spoken to me through friends, Bible verses, small confirmations – you have it.  One important key is to remember the Holy Spirit always brings peace.  If confusion or chaos are produced from a leading, that is a tall tale sign, that was not God’s Spirit.  Let peace lead us!

3.  Start Small, Celebrate Big (Think Baby Steps in Killer Heels): You don’t have to quit your job and move to Bali overnight (unless you want to, you magnificent creature!). Start with smaller decisions that push your comfort zone. Order that weird-sounding dish. Strike up a conversation with a stranger. Celebrate each small victory – you’re building momentum!

***Small victories for me are often actually making something happen like organizing a pile, writing a blog post – ha!, starting a presentation.  What are small victories for you?  Let’s make sure when we have victories, we reward ourselves somehow.  Positive reinforcement can make a world of difference!

4.  Visualize Your “I Did It!” Moment (Imagine the Applause): Picture yourself having made the bold choice and feeling amazing. What does that look like? How does it feel? Visualizing success can boost your confidence and make the decision feel more tangible and less scary. Think of it as your personal highlight reel.  I’d say speak affirmations of the moment as well.  Faith speaks into existence (Hebrews 11:3).

***Soon, I want to post an amazing affirmation I have.  I have been lead to use it when I sense a breakthrough needs to happen in my life.  Stay tuned, I will share it with you.  Get ready for MAJOR movement in your life – the best kind… Divine promotion (Psalm 75:6-7).

5.  Surround Yourself with “Heck Yes!” People (Ditch the “Maybe Maebels”): Your squad matters. Surround yourself with people who encourage your growth, celebrate your courage, and remind you of your awesomeness. Ditch the Debbie Downers and the “maybe maebels” who suck the boldness right out of the room. You deserve a cheering section!

***Our tribe determines our vibe, choose wisely.  Proverbs 13:20 tells us the wise connect with the wise.  Acts 6:2 gives us great keys in choosing people to hang around.  I like to find friends who stretch me.  It is never a goal to have close friends who influence me to live smaller or shrink back.

6.  This is a bonus for you.  I love to over deliver!  **The Biggest key has not been listed yet: We need to pray about it FIRST AND FOR MOST!  Prayer changes things, mostly ourselves!  Ask God before doing anything else.  Watch Matthew 6:33 come to pass before our very eyes!  #bestdaysahead

So, ladies, are you ready to trade those “what ifs” for some seriously empowering “I did its?” The world is waiting for your bold moves, your daring decisions, and your unapologetic “heck yeses!” Go out there and make some magic happen! You’ve got this. Now go tell Brenda her casserole story. (Just kidding… unless…?)

PS. In the comments below, please share crossroads you are facing.  What choices do you need to make?  I would love to hear!  What methods do you employ when making decisions?  What small wins do you celebrate in your life?  Feel free to share your strategies in the comments as well.

For more Women Encouragement, please check out this post entitled: 3 Sneaky Ways to Add Personal Development (the post really lists 4 Ways, but who is counting – ha!)