Many times fear motivates a case of indecision. A person, afraid to change in thought or action, has difficulty choosing one among two or more options.  Fortunately, people can learn to overcome this condition and make good decisions.

Often, people turn to friends, relatives, or colleagues in the process of trying to handle their indecision. Asking another person to sit and talk out the question provides a sounding board and may open the person who must make a decision to ideas he or she may not have seen when the question arose. However, this can lead to information overload and overwhelm someone who may have thought there were only two ways to solve a problem, especially when multiple friends step in to try to help. It works for those who have plenty of time and enjoy having extra options to mull over.

Many people, especially those who enjoy writing, use the task of making lists to aid in overcoming indecision. Commonly, when there are only two answers to a question, these people write out a list of the good points to each, then the negatives to each. This technique works well for those who like to let the positives outweigh the negatives in a situation. They look at the lists and choose whichever option presents more positive ideas for answering the question at hand.

Some people combine both techniques, first trying to make a list, and then seeking a trusted person for advice. By choosing only one objective person with whom to share the problem, the indecisive person thus finds a sounding board. By planning a time to talk out the person’s lists of pros and cons, the adviser can come better prepared to listen and help in the decision-making process. Having someone to talk to in this way can assist the person facing a tough decision to overcome the fear of change that led to his or case of indecision at first. Doing these exercises helps both people gain more trust in each other and shows them that when indecision rears its ugly head, they can go to one another for objective, helpful opinions and advice.

However, in the end, it is all up to the person who originally had to overcome the indecision to make a choice and stick with it. Everyone around him or her must remember this once the decision has been made and not question it, because such attitudes can lead to the person second guessing everything he or she does and decides, thus leading to more indecision and longer waiting times for answers in the future.